Balázs Szegedy, Head of the Artificial Intelligence Research Group at Rényi Institute, was one of the participants in a panel discussion organized by the MCC Climate Policy Institute.
The MCC Climate Policy Institute hosted a roundtable discussion titled “Artificial Intelligence: Climate Salvation or Digital Illusion?” The event examined the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) specifically from the perspectives of environmental protection and sustainability. In addition to Balázs Szegedy, Head of the Artificial Intelligence Research Group at HUN-REN Alfréd Rényi Institute of Mathematics, the distinguished panel included András Benczúr, Professional Director of the National Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence and Head of the Information Systems Research Laboratory at SZTAKI; Péter Fehérvári, AI expert at the Government Commissioner’s Office for Artificial Intelligence; and innovation management expert Achilles Georgiu.
During the discussion, experts outlined both optimistic and pessimistic scenarios regarding AI’s role in addressing climate change, as well as its current energy consumption. They emphasized that we are currently living through a transitional period in AI development, where the intensity and dynamic pace of technological progress are capable of introducing new solutions into the scientific mainstream on a daily basis. In everyday life, large language models are the most commonly encountered AI tools, while AI is already supporting researchers’ work in many fields.
Balázs Szegedy stressed that if the current pace of development continues, intelligent systems may emerge that can genuinely compete with humans—and even surpass them in areas such as planning. “With such a rate of progress each year, within 3–4 years artificial intelligence could help enable the realization of fusion energy, or even the implementation of possibilities that today seem extreme, such as influencing the biosphere.”
Several invited speakers also expressed concerns that AI may encourage human complacency by performing tasks on our behalf. “If we don’t use a muscle, it atrophies—and the same is true for thinking,” Szegedy emphasized. “Consider how this could affect the education system: a student uses a language model to write their entire thesis or homework, and the teacher has it read and corrected by AI. That would be a highly undesirable development, one for which we must find a solution.”
Numerous remarks were made regarding the already mentioned energy demands of artificial intelligence. “In the short term – over the next one or two years – this enormous energy demand will burden our environment. In the long term, however, AI could lead to technological breakthroughs that bring extraordinary benefits. One area I would particularly like to see progress in is fusion energy, which humanity has long been working on and which is an extremely complex challenge. Today it may sound like science fiction, but it cannot be ruled out that AI may find the solution,” said academician Balázs Szegedy, research professor at Rényi Institute. Participants agreed that one of the serious societal risks is the potential growth of inequalities between individuals and countries as AI spreads. According to Szegedy, the United States and China currently appear to be in a strong position, while Europe is somewhat lagging behind; therefore, efforts must be made to close this gap and avoid becoming dependent. “It is important that we invest in this field and implement a sound AI strategy,” he added.
Speaking about the emergence of data centers, Szegedy described this new era of information organization as mathematically exciting. The panelists all said they were watching with curiosity where this revolutionary development in the digital world will take us. At the same time, they emphasized the importance of regulation – such as the EU AI Act –while cautioning against overregulation and advocating for the consistent maintenance of a delicate balance.
The round table discussion can be watched HERE, with subtitles switched on.