VU Amsterdam

VU is at the forefront of AI research, with a central focus on interaction between humans and machines. The university works on fundamental themes such as self-organizing systems, knowledge representation, hybrid intelligence, and social AI, with applications in domains such as healthcare, robotics, and societal challenges.

Within the KIN Center for Digital Innovation, the AI@Work research group conducts ethnographic research into how AI is introduced, used, and experienced in the workplace. They study AI’s impact on work practices by embedding researchers in organizations over extended periods.

As a partner of Amsterdam AI, VU contributes both technical expertise and a societal perspective. By connecting education, research, and societal collaboration, VU helps advance responsible, human-centered AI solutions that are not only technically robust, but also aligned with human and organizational contexts.

Contribute to what Amsterdam has to offer in the field of AI?

Do you have any questions? Email us at [email protected]. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

Case studies

The latest news

Robots learn to see where people are looking with ordinary cameras, in hospitals, schools and on the work floor

AI scientist Linlin Cheng of VU Amsterdam shows that social robots can estimate where someone’s attention lies without expensive eye trackers.
7 October 2026

New European AI recommendation aims to make students and teachers more resilient

The Council of Europe has adopted a new recommendation on AI literacy, drawing on input from a VU expert, that closely aligns with the VU’s own digitalisation strategy.
18 September 2026

Who is building Europe’s digital future? VU research on the role of labour migrants

Political scientist Julia Rone (VU) has received an ERC Starting Grant to systematically study how labour migrants, from AI specialists to technical staff, help make Europe’s digital strategic autonomy possible.
15 September 2026

Society

VU Amsterdam launches modular workshop series on generative AI for educators

The VU Centre for Teaching & Learning is introducing a new series of modular workshops from the 2026-2027 academic year to help educators integrate generative AI into their teaching in a conscious and responsible way.
25 August 2026

Health & Care

AI coach supports brain injury rehabilitation at home

Researchers from the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, VU Amsterdam, and Amsterdam UMC are developing an AI platform to guide people with acquired brain injury through their rehabilitation at home.
24 August 2026

Society

Veni grant awarded for research into the influence of algorithms on government communication

VU Amsterdam researcher Kayla Schwoerer has received a Veni grant from NWO to study how social media algorithms determine which government information citizens see online.
22 August 2026

Society

Veni grant for VU Amsterdam researcher Enrico Liscio on AI that adapts to human values

AI researcher Enrico Liscio at VU Amsterdam has received a Veni grant from NWO to study how AI systems can recognise individual users’ values during conversations and tailor their responses accordingly.
12 August 2026

Society

TeNet: compact AI framework makes language-driven robots faster and more energy-efficient

Researchers at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam have developed a framework that enables robots to execute language instructions without continuously relying on a large language model.
31 July 2026

Society

ClueBots: social robots guide festival visitors at Lowlands

Communication scientists from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam are using the Lowlands music festival as a research setting to study how people interact with social robots through an adventure game featuring nine different robot characters.
9 July 2026

Society

It is not AI that makes people redundant, a wrong mentality does

HvA expert Hannah Berkers challenges deterministic AI narratives and argues for a deliberate, human-centred approach to deploying the technology.
6 July 2026

Society

HvA to develop four Open Tech Labs with Amsterdam municipality grant

The Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences receives 1.3 million euros from the City of Amsterdam to transform four existing technology labs into open innovation environments for students, researchers, and entrepreneurs.
2 July 2026

Society

New handbook helps residents have a say in urban AI development

The Civic Interaction Design research group at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences presented the handbook
29 June 2026

“Ethics alone will not get us there”

A conversation with Arno Lodder, Professor of Internet Governance and Regulation (VU), about the importance of a legal framework for AI
23 June 2026

Society

VU Amsterdam research: successful AI management depends on people and collaboration, not technology

Research from VU Amsterdam shows that failed AI projects rarely have technical causes, but stem primarily from poor management and integration within organisations.
19 June 2026

Society

VU Amsterdam mathematicians sign international declaration on AI and mathematics

An international group of researchers, including two mathematicians from VU Amsterdam, has presented the Leiden Declaration on Artificial Intelligence and Mathematics, setting out recommendations on the risks AI poses to mathematical research.
16 June 2026

Society

HvA researcher brings quantum perspective to international HCI conference CHI 2026

Senior researcher Dr. Marije Kanis of the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences presented new perspectives on the relationship between quantum technology, design, and society at CHI 2026 in Barcelona.
11 June 2026

Society

HvA event explores balance between AI and human contact

On 3 June, professionals, researchers and AI experts gathered in B. Amsterdam for the event AI & Human Contact, organised by the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.
9 June 2026

Society

HvA event explores balance between AI and human contact

On 3 June, professionals, researchers and AI experts gathered in B. Amsterdam for the event AI & Human Contact, organised by the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.
9 June 2026

Society

VU Amsterdam launches BI Portal as central platform for data and reporting

VU Amsterdam has launched a new BI Portal that brings together all information and processes related to reporting in one central location.
1 June 2026

Society

VU Amsterdam offers minor in digital humanities and social data analytics through Aurora Network

Third-year bachelor students can enrol from August 2026 in an interdisciplinary minor in digital methods and social data analysis, offered by VU Amsterdam through the Aurora course catalogue.
1 June 2026

Cases

Projects & activities with VU Amsterdam

Civic AI Lab

Cultural AI Lab

Discovery Lab

Evolutionaire AI

GLOBALISE

Health Data Infrastructure

Improve care for the elderly

Make Robots Talk

The AI Society

The Hybrid Intelligence Centre

Do you want to be part of the network?

Our team is happy to help you learn more about what Amsterdam AI can do for you and how you can contribute to advancing AI in the Amsterdam region.

Registration form