More state investment will be set aside for artificial intelligence going forward, the cabinet announced on Thursday. Part of the government's newly-published Dutch Digitalisation Strategy, the investment strategy aims to ensure that the Netherlands retains its position as a digital frontrunner in Europe, according to the cabinet. The Dutch AI Coalition, which was launched in October of 2019 and contains 350 members, received a cash injection of 23.5 million euros on Thursday to in order to research and develop artificial intelligence technologies, the Cabinet announced, adding that the 64 million euros invested in the coalition in 2019 will be doubled this year. A statement on the government website explains the reason new interest in AI technologies. "To keep the Netherlands as the digital leader of Europe, companies, consumers and governments will have to react quicker and be more innovative to the high speeds that society and the economy is digitalizing," the Cabinet stated.

The EU has been forced to rethink its new digital strategy, which includes measures to boost its data independence and significantly alter the way European AI algorithms are trained. Unveiled in February, the stringent set of rules for the development and use of AI products is designed to ensure the nascent technology is used responsibly. The new rules introduce stipulations around data quality and also demand AI algorithms developed in the EU are trained using European data, which could prove prohibitive. The rapid spread of the novel coronavirus has emphasised the critical importance of agility and collaboration across continents, which the EU's proposed measures (if unchanged) will render extremely difficult, steeping the process in bureaucracy. The 12-week consultation on the new digital strategy - which will determine its final form - is set to take place at the end of May, but will now likely be postponed.