Mapping the digital future of the Netherlands

Societal impact at the core

While many future outlooks focus solely on technological trends, researchers at TNO Vector place a strong emphasis on the societal dimension. The report shows that agentic AI – self-learning, autonomous AI systems – will soon affect a wide range of societal domains, from defence to education and from digital infrastructure to the economy. Digital twins, multiparty computing and quantum-safe cryptography are also identified as technologies with significant impact.

‘The pace at which digital technologies evolve calls for agile policies and continuous monitoring,’ says Marianne Schoenmakers, lead author of the report. ‘It is vital that we, as a society, maintain control over these developments to safeguard public values such as privacy, autonomy and security.’

Opportunities and risks

The researchers stress that societal effects largely depend on how technology is developed and applied. Agentic AI offers opportunities to automate complex tasks and personalise services, but it also carries risks such as loss of transparency, reliance on foreign parties and pressure on other public values like privacy. Technologies can also be combined, amplifying their societal impact – such as merging quantum and AI, or AI with robotics or digital twins.

Role of government: direction and decisions

The report emphasises the government’s crucial role in balancing diverse values and interests. Accurate, up-to-date information is essential to choose whether to regulate, stimulate or otherwise shape innovation processes. The researchers therefore advocate for a permanent technology monitor, giving policymakers continuous insight into emerging developments and their potential impact.

‘The future is not set in stone,’ Schoenmakers states. ‘Right now, the Netherlands still has the ability to steer how digital technologies are deployed. This calls for deliberate choices and a broad societal dialogue.’