Our colleagues recently attended the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) conference, "Artificial Intelligence, Human Expertise in Construction – Where to Next?", where leading professionals from across the construction industry shared their experience on the future of digitalisation, artificial intelligence and engineering education.

AI is no longer the future—it is the present. One of the conference's strongest messages was clear: adopting artificial intelligence is no longer an optional choice; it is a competitive necessity. As Zsolt Oláh, expert at CÉH Ltd., aptly remarked:

"The real risk isn't trying AI. It's not trying it."

According to our colleagues, several presentations clearly highlighted that while Hungary's construction industry has steadily caught up with international trends in areas such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) and other digital technologies, the pace of AI development is considerably faster. Companies should therefore start testing and integrating new technologies into their day-to-day operations right away.

Educating the Next Generation of Engineers

Another key focus of the conference was the future of engineering education. Speakers emphasised that universities must continuously adapt their curricula to keep pace with technological change, ensuring that graduates truly meet the expectations of the job market.

Our colleagues were particularly impressed by the examples that demonstrated how AI-based solutions and cutting-edge IT knowledge are already being embedded into the curriculum. The objective is clear: to educate engineers who can confidently navigate even in a rapidly changing technological environment.

AI Doesn't Replace Professionals

The conference concluded with a professional roundtable discussion sharing practical experiences of artificial intelligence across the construction sector. A clear consensus emerged among the participants: AI is not here to replace professionals. Instead, it serves as a powerful tool for supporting decision-making and optimising workflows.

For our colleagues, one of the event's most valuable takeaways was that organisations committed to continuous improvement and openness to new technologies will remain competitive in the long term. This perspective is also in line with Duna Group's current approach. We closely monitor the development of digital solutions and, where relevant, strive to test them in practice and integrate them into our daily operations.