Dutch government pledges $222M for AI innovation

The announcement was made in a publication outlining the government’s strategy for taking advantage of generative AI systems such as ChatGPT while protecting against risks.

The government of the Netherlands will set aside 204.5 million euros ($222.07 million), according to a Jan. 18 announcement from the Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relations. The funds aim to foster local investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and help the Netherlands “not to remain stuck on the sidelines” when it comes to AI.

According to the announcement from the Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relations, Asia and the United States have taken the lead in the use of responsible generative AI. Hence, the investment in AI innovations will position the European Union (EU) to compete and set the course for the development of this technology.

The government also plans to organize campaigns to educate people on protecting data from generative AI. There is also an ongoing inquiry into creating a secure and functional national AI testing facility for public use.

The publication outlined the government’s strategy for taking advantage of generative AI systems such as ChatGPT while protecting against risks of misinformation and reduction in job opportunities. The Netherlands would also begin adhering to the essence of Europe’s landmark AI Act that regulates the governmental use of AI and dictates rules to follow before market entry “immediately.”

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In December 2023, the European Union reached a political deal on a risk-based model for regulating AI, but some details are still being hammered out, and it has not yet formally been enacted. However, the Dutch government stated in the publication that the Netherlands will start dealing with the EU landmark Act as it is instead of waiting for final answers.

To harness the benefits of generative AI, the country needs to focus on nurturing AI talent to create generative AI that aligns with European standards and values, as stated by Robbert Dijkgraaf, Minister of Education, Culture, and Science.

According to the Minister, the government is also considering investing in significant scientific and technological resources, like supercomputers, for both the Netherlands and the European Union. This will ensure the EU’s competitiveness in large language models (LLMs) and other generative AI. However, the Dutch government will continue to seek legislative advice on the legal framework from various watchdogs.