How HUN-REN Prepares for the Age of AI – Roland Jakab Presents the Future of Science at an International Conference

The conference, held at the end of March as part of the Neumann series, explored how artificial intelligence is transforming scientific thinking, the operation of research institutions, and the role of universities. Alongside Roland Jakab, panel participants included Bence Ságvári, professor of sociology at Corvinus University of Budapest; János Sztipanovits, professor of computer science at Vanderbilt University; Roland Molontay, deputy director of the Institute of Mathematics at Budapest University of Technology and Economics; and Kristóf Horompoly, head of AI at ValidMind.

The discussion focused on the relationship between mathematics and artificial intelligence, as well as on how research and higher education institutions can renew themselves strategically and organizationally to remain competitive in an era where AI is becoming an integral part of scientific discovery. In his remarks, Roland Jakab emphasized that artificial intelligence is not only accelerating research but is also gradually redefining its entire structure.

To address this shift, HUN-REN is developing a comprehensive approach that supports the full research lifecycle with AI tools—from data processing and literature mapping to hypothesis generation, experimental design, and publication. A key component of this strategy is the so-called Agentic Discovery Platform, an integrated research environment that combines multiple AI tools to assist researchers throughout the entire research process.

The presentation also highlighted that AI is likely to transform science in several stages—from systems that support human work, through partially automated research processes, to fully autonomous scientific systems. HUN-REN’s goal is to ensure that the Hungarian research community is well prepared for this transition and plays an active role in shaping the next era of AI-driven science globally.

Participation in the New York conference demonstrates that HUN-REN aims not only to follow but also to shape international thinking about the future of artificial intelligence and science. The network’s ambition is to ensure that Hungarian research remains visible and competitive in the global scientific landscape in the age of AI.

“Can we survive technology?” asked John von Neumann in 1955. Today, in an era of rapid advances in artificial intelligence, his question is more relevant than ever.