AI Start 500: Hungarian SMEs receive free access to AI

The aim of the initiative is to give sole proprietors as well as micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in Hungary a simple, secure and free entry point into AI adoption.

Márton Suppan
founder and CEO
Peak

According to Peak, while large corporations are already making progress in business AI, smaller companies still face major barriers, including high costs, lack of technical infrastructure, and concerns around data security and uncontrolled use of AI tools.

The programme has two levels. All applicants receive free access to AI training materials and can complete an AI maturity assessment, which provides personalised feedback and recommendations. In the second phase, 500 selected businesses will be able to use the EchoAI platform free of charge for one year, with access to AI agents that can support areas such as customer service, internal knowledge management and sales. No technical background or software installation is required.

Peak estimates that participating businesses could save more than 1,000 working hours through the programme. Company feedback suggests that SMEs are primarily looking for solutions that reduce administrative burdens, improve information retrieval and ease day-to-day operational pressure.

Midway through the application period, interest appears strong, especially outside Budapest: 77% of applicants are based in the countryside. Survey responses show that businesses are not looking for futuristic technologies, but for practical tools that help with administration and organisation. One of the most frequently mentioned needs was the creation of an effective internal knowledge base, as many companies said key know-how still exists mainly “in the owner’s head”.

The findings also suggest that the sector is largely open to AI. While 69% of applicants have already tried ChatGPT, this has mostly remained individual experimentation rather than company-wide implementation. Only 3% of respondents described themselves as beginners, while 97% said they are either open to AI or already ready to introduce it.

Prof. Dr. László Palkovics
government commissioner
for artificial intelligence

According to Dr László Palkovics, Government Commissioner for Artificial Intelligence, AI applications can give SMEs a significant competitive advantage by making advanced technological support available beyond the largest companies. The application deadline for AI Start 500 is 5 April, and the programme can be accessed via aikorkep.hu, where additional educational resources and tools are also available.

The application deadline for AI Start 500 is 5 April. The application platform is available via aikorkep.hu, where visitors can also access a free glossary and knowledge base, professional publications, and a tool finder.