Dutch cabinet approves national vision for AI development and safeguards

The Dutch cabinet has approved a national vision for artificial intelligence that aims to expand AI development and use while keeping the technology aligned with public values and reducing reliance on a small number of foreign suppliers.

The strategy, proposed by State Secretary for Digital Economy and Sovereignty Willemijn Aerdts, focuses on three areas: responsible development and use of AI; access to advanced technology and security; and steering the transition in line with public values. The cabinet says it wants enough Dutch and European expertise and capacity to retain access to important technologies and make its own choices, rather than full technological independence.

The government wants Dutch AI companies to grow and AI to be adopted more quickly by businesses and public services. It says it will work on a broader approach to data centres and publish plans for the country’s AI infrastructure and computing capacity in early 2027. It also intends to address barriers that prevent smaller businesses from using AI, and to make successful public-sector applications more widely available through joint purchasing.

On security, the cabinet says AI can make cyberattacks more sophisticated and can be used for disinformation and influence operations. It will examine which technologies and infrastructure the Netherlands and Europe should develop themselves, and where cooperation with trusted international partners is sufficient. The government is also considering whether to establish a Dutch AI safety institute to help identify and address emerging risks.

The plan puts human wellbeing and fundamental rights at its centre, according to the cabinet. It points to the EU AI Act as a framework for safe and responsible use, and says it wants to help companies and public bodies apply the rules, including through supervised trials of new applications. The government also plans to help people understand AI and prepare for its effects on work. It is working with the media sector on an agreement concerning reliable information and the use of journalistic content by AI, and says citizens will be able to discuss AI’s opportunities and limits in 2027 and 2028.

The vision sets a direction rather than detailing every policy: individual ministries are to develop measures for their own areas, from healthcare and education to the economy and national security.