At an international conference celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Public Procurement Authority in Budapest, Rigó Csaba Balázs, the president of the Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH), stressed the critical need for targeted support for domestic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the effective application of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

Balázs highlighted that the development of Hungarian language models is a matter of national sovereignty, referencing a significant decision made by the GVH's Competition Council in May regarding Microsoft. As a result of the authority's proceedings, Microsoft committed to creating a database containing at least 10 billion Hungarian phrases, which will be integrated into its various AI-based systems after proper preparation.

The GVH president pointed out that the authority oversees the proper functioning of economic competition mechanisms, preventing or eliminating practices that restrict or distort competition. Through these efforts, the GVH serves the interests of consumers and supports the competitive position of Hungarian businesses.

One effective tool for this is conducting market analyses. Balázs recalled that in 2024, the GVH was among the first European competition authorities to conduct a comprehensive market analysis to explore the effects of AI on market competition and consumer decision-making. This analysis highlighted that the application of AI could enhance the competitiveness of Hungarian businesses and revealed that global tech companies do not prioritize the introduction or development of products specifically for the Hungarian market.

Furthermore, Balázs emphasized the importance of targeted development of self-learning systems based on smaller languages, such as Hungarian, for the preservation of national data sovereignty, data security, and cultural identity. He noted that the GVH achieved a historically significant commitment from Microsoft in its investigation concluded on May 30, 2025, which will greatly improve the capabilities of Hungarian-language AI applications.

Balázs also pointed out that the recently adopted revised national AI strategy aligns with several recommendations made by GVH experts. He stated that the GVH supports any initiative that promotes fair market competition and consumer protection while facilitating the economic utilization of AI and strengthening the application of AI among domestic SMEs. The correct application of AI technologies is now a fundamental competitiveness factor.