The Amsterdam Vision on AI: A Realistic View on Artificial Intelligence

Unlike many narratives about the rise of "superhuman intelligence" that often dominate the news, Amsterdam opts for a pragmatic approach to AI. The city’s vision frames AI as “intensive automation”—a powerful technology intended to serve people and communities. This realistic and down-to-earth perspective helps Amsterdam steer clear of both doom scenarios and fairy-tale-like visions of AI’s future.

No Doom or Salvation, Just Realism

City Councilor Alexander Scholtes (ICT and Digital City, D66) highlights the importance of a realistic approach in his letter to the City Council, stating, “We must be able to decide how this technology shapes us.” The City of Amsterdam views AI neither as a technological salvation nor as a threatening force to dominate us. The Vision on AI aims to demystify the technology and poses questions about what constitutes a “good life” and how AI can contribute to it—without losing sight of humanity.

Values and Principles: AI in Service of the People of Amsterdam

The core of the vision is rooted in the values of the residents. Like in the Digital City Agenda, the values of putting residents first, reliability, and sustainability remain central. From these values, several principles have been developed to guide responsible AI use:

• Human Value: Every decision involving technology considers what is gained and what aspects of humanity may be lost.
• Expert Guidance: AI is used in contexts where experts can evaluate the outcomes and interpret them appropriately.
• Intensive Automation: AI requires large investments in labor, capital, and resources, and energy and material usage must be responsible.
• AI Education: Both Amsterdammers and municipal employees will be trained in AI literacy, enabling them to use the technology consciously and competently.
• Equal Access: The city is committed to reducing digital inequality by making AI accessible to all residents.

Looking Forward: Amsterdam’s AI Agenda

To put the vision into practice, Amsterdam is developing an AI Agenda for municipal organizations. This agenda, expected to be published in the second quarter of 2025, will provide guidelines for the responsible use of AI within the municipality. The goal is to increase AI knowledge among employees and ensure that the technology is applied in an ethical, inclusive, and sustainable way.

Councilor Scholtes encourages the City Council to continue discussions on the role of AI. “AI is changing many aspects of our daily lives. We must remain vigilant in how we use AI and stay mindful of its impact on society.” In this Amsterdam vision, the focus is on a human-centered, realistic approach to artificial intelligence, always keeping the interests of the people of Amsterdam at the forefront.