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On February 4, MCC's Climate Policy Institute hosted a roundtable discussion titled Artificial Intelligence: Climate Breakthrough or Digital Illusion, examining the role of artificial intelligence in environmental protection and sustainability. The event explored both the potential benefits and the limitations of AI, focusing on how rapidly developing technologies could influence climate related research, policy, and public attitudes.
The panel brought together leading experts from the fields of artificial intelligence, mathematics, innovation, and public policy. Participants included András Benczúr, Head of Artificial Intellgence Laboratory at SZTAKI; Balázs Szegedy, Research Professor and Head of the Artificial Intelligence Research Department at the HUN-REN Alfréd Rényi Institute of Mathematics; Péter Fehérvári, AI Expert at the Office of the Government Commissioner for Artificial Intelligence; and Achilles Georgiu, Innovation Management Expert. The discussion addressed how AI driven solutions are already entering scientific practice and how the pace of technological change continues to introduce new tools into research and decision making.
Speakers emphasized that the development of artificial intelligence is currently in a transitional phase. The intensity and speed of technological progress mean that new applications can emerge almost daily, offering novel ways to support scientific analysis, data processing, and knowledge dissemination. At the same time, panelists cautioned that the effectiveness of AI in serving climate and sustainability goals will depend not only on technical capabilities but also on how societies choose to deploy these tools.
A key theme of the discussion was the role of public attitudes in shaping the future impact of artificial intelligence. Participants noted that social expectations and values will significantly influence how the growing energy demand of AI systems is managed. While artificial intelligence can meaningfully support scientific research and educational objectives related to climate policy, it can also be directed toward far less productive or even counterproductive purposes. For this reason, the panel stressed that the way humanity perceives and governs this technological innovation will be decisive.
The roundtable concluded that artificial intelligence should not be viewed as an automatic solution to environmental challenges, nor dismissed as a mere digital illusion. Instead, it represents a powerful but value neutral tool whose contribution to sustainability will depend on responsible governance, informed public debate, and clear strategic priorities in climate and energy policy.
