On December 10, SEED Executive School held its third Alumni Club event, titled “AI” IS HERE AND BRINGS VALUE, WHY DON’T WE USE IT?” This session was hosted by SEED alumnus Tamás Papp (Business Leadership Program, 2015), CEO and Co-Founder of CollabIT Switzerland AG. The thought-provoking discussion focused on understanding the tangible capabilities of generative AI tools that are widely available and addressing the barriers preventing their adoption in organizations. The event also welcomed guest speakers Tímea Lestár, Senior Director of People Analytics and Managing Director Hungary at ARM Limited, and Magdolna Tokai (alumnus of SEED’s Business Leadership Program, 2015), Deputy CEO at ALTEO Group, who shared their perspectives on AI’s impact in their industries.

The session opened with László Aczél, Head of Marketing and Partnerships and faculty member at SEED, who set the tone for the discussion on leadership in the era of AI-driven innovation.

The program began with a presentation by our host, Tamás Papp. Drawing from his IT expertise, he highlighted the significant untapped potential of AI within Europe and Hungary. He pointed out that while 70% of employees reportedly use AI in some form, many organizations have yet to fully integrate its capabilities into their processes. He emphasized that embracing AI is essential for staying competitive and that organizational hesitancy is a key factor behind Europe’s lag compared to the United States.

Papp’s presentation showcased the practical ease with which AI can address daily challenges in the workplace. He noted that employees spend 15–20 hours a week on routine tasks, 40% of which can be automated with AI, enabling them to focus on higher-value activities. During a live demonstration, he used Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT to illustrate how these tools can streamline workflows. For example, when integrated with Outlook, Copilot can organize emails based on given criteria, summarize email chains, and even propose actions or draft responses. Similarly, ChatGPT can analyze meeting transcripts and provide concise summaries highlighting key issues, deadlines, and takeaways.

From the participants’ perspective, a recurring theme in the session was resistance to AI adoption within organizations. Papp addressed common objections, such as concerns about data security and skepticism about AI’s practical value. He highlighted the importance of investing in the right tools, particularly when handling sensitive data with the help of AI. Papp also underscored that AI is designed to mimic human communication patterns, advising participants to interact with these tools as they would with a colleague for optimal results. Additionally, he emphasized AI’s potential for innovation, citing examples like a university in Frankfurt that uses AI to evaluate student applications with remarkable speed and accuracy.

During the event, participants engaged in small group discussions where they had the opportunity to exchange ideas and share their experiences with AI in their daily work. These discussions uncovered a range of insights. Many attendees reported using AI for optimizing information workflows, enhancing reliability, and addressing cognitive biases. However, they also acknowledged the technology’s limitations in tasks requiring ethical judgment, creative vision, or user-centric interaction.

In addition to these discussions, participants worked on engaging group tasks based on case studies. These included using AI to create music, develop marketing plans, and solve mathematical problems. These practical exercises showcased AI’s versatility and sparked conversations about its potential to enhance creativity and streamline problem-solving processes across diverse fields. The tasks also demonstrated that if AI can draft marketing plans or analyze multiple invoices within minutes using limited information, its capabilities expand exponentially when provided with comprehensive data and prompted effectively.

The event featured guest speakers Tímea Lestár, Senior Director of People Analytics and Managing Director Hungary at ARM Limited, and Magdolna Tokai, Deputy CEO at ALTEO Group, who offered valuable insights into AI’s impact on their respective industries.

The event’s dynamic format provided an open platform for participants to explore AI’s possibilities while reflecting on its practical applications. Tamás Papp’s demonstrations emphasized how intuitive and user-friendly AI tools have become, encouraging participants to embrace these technologies as essential aids in their professional lives. By illustrating how easily AI can be integrated into daily workflows, Tamás inspired attendees to rethink their approaches to routine challenges and explore the vast potential of generative AI.

We extend our gratitude to Tamás for hosting the event and to all participants for contributing to the discussion. We look forward to welcoming you to our next event!