According to the latest K&H Innovation Index survey, 58 percent of Hungarian mid-size and large companies with annual revenues of at least HUF 300 million used some form of artificial intelligence in the first half of 2026. This represents a notable increase from 48 percent in the previous half-year.
Share of AI-related development activity rises
The proportion of firms reporting AI-related development work rose from 24 percent to 36 percent over six months, indicating growing investment not only in adoption but also in developing AI capabilities.
Differences by sector and company size
- Service sector: AI use is highest here, with 66 percent of companies employing AI solutions.
- By revenue: companies with annual revenues above HUF 4 billion lead the field — 72 percent of these firms use AI.
- Among companies that introduced a new product or service in the past two years, 65 percent use AI.
Innovation funding strongly linked to AI use
Firms that received innovation funding display particularly high AI adoption: 80 percent of innovation grant recipients use artificial intelligence, well above the average for the surveyed group. The results suggest AI is becoming a core tool for innovation-driven and growth-oriented companies.
What do companies use AI for?
Respondents reported the most common AI applications as:
- Translating texts: 39 percent — this share doubled over one year and tripled over two years.
- Processing texts (e.g., creating summaries or drafting letters): 33 percent — this use has grown with dynamics similar to translation.
- Supporting marketing communication: 22 percent — this share has doubled since the second half of 2024.
Overall, the survey shows expanding AI adoption among Hungarian mid-size and large companies, particularly among more innovative and larger firms. The most frequent uses focus on handling text-based information and supporting communication.
