László Palkovics, the government commissioner for artificial intelligence (AI), said Hungary's National Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence (MILAB) is among the country's top research institutions.

Speaking at the SZTAKI (Computer and Automation Research Institute) in Budapest on Monday, Palkovics said MILAB is tightly linked to the Artificial Intelligence Coalition established by companies, universities, and scientific workshops in 2018, adding that it collaborates with other national laboratories that make use of AI.

In a few weeks, the AI labs will have access to a dashboard showing who is doing what in the field of AI in Hungary, he said, adding that Hungary was at the forefront in this area.

Hungarian research institutes, Palkovics noted, have been involved in artificial intelligence since the 1970s and 1980s, which is why Hungary is well-positioned in AI research and development. In 2020, Hungary was the fourth country in Europe, after Finland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, to develop an AI strategy at the government level. A revision of the strategy will be completed soon, he added.

Laszlo Bodis, deputy state secretary for innovation, said AI was not just a technological innovation but also carried the potential for economic and social breakthroughs. MILAB, he added, is bringing together ten partners, and they are identifying how to harness AI for the benefit of the economy.