News

Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially large language models like GPT-4, has made remarkable strides in reasoning tasks. However, a new study highlights the limitations in AI’s ability to truly understand abstract concepts, suggesting that it’s more about mimicking patterns than genuine comprehension.

NEMO Kennislink, in collaboration with researchers from UvA, HvA, and CWI, is testing a new AI-powered recommendation system in the AI Media & Democracy Lab. We’re looking for enthusiastic participants to read NEMO Kennislink articles on their smartphone via a special test app for two months.

Amsterdam-based AI startup Lemni has officially launched, securing €3.3 million in pre-seed funding led by Sequoia Capital. The investment will help Lemni accelerate product development, expand its team, and scale its AI-driven customer interaction platform globally.

A NewsGuard audit reveals that the ten largest AI chatbots repeat disinformation from a Russian propaganda network 33% of the time. By systematically spreading false information, the Kremlin influences how AI systems process and present news.

Pacmed Critical, an AI-powered dashboard for Intensive Care units, has won the regional round of the Zorginnovatieprijs 2025. This recognition provides an extra boost for Pacmed co-founder Wouter Kroese and his team in further developing their AI solution. The final of the National Zorginnovatieprijs will take place on March 13.

How should Europe shape AI for the future? 

From customer service chatbots to virtual assistants like Siri and social robots helping children learn, we increasingly find ourselves talking to machines. But how does this affect human communication? Communication scientist Jochen Peter and his colleagues at the Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR) are studying Human-Machine Communication (HMC) and how technology is reshaping our interactions.  

AI’s rise in healthcare promises faster diagnoses and improved patient care. However, according to Hannah van Kolfschooten, a PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam’s Faculty of Law, patient rights risk being overshadowed by AI hype. “AI should improve care, not just give hospitals a ‘cool’ image,” she argues in an interview. Her research focuses on safeguarding patient rights within the European Union.

The Breaking Barriers program, launching in spring 2025, is set to accelerate AI startups in the Netherlands.