DNB: AI could speed up work for a quarter of workers
The Dutch central bank says AI could speed up at least half the tasks of a quarter of Dutch workers, but the effects on jobs are still unclear.
The DNB AI report from De Nederlandsche Bank, published on 2 November 2026, says AI could speed up at least half the tasks of a quarter of Dutch workers. At the same time, the central bank stresses that this does not predict what will happen to jobs or the economy.
What is new exactly?
DNB published the analysis The economic impact of AI in the Netherlands. It says that a quarter of Dutch workers are in jobs where AI can help speed up at least half of their tasks.
This is about tasks that AI can support or automate. Think of summarising, emailing, reporting and organising data. DNB is clear that this measure does not predict what happens to employment.
So according to DNB, using AI does not have to mean fewer jobs. AI can take over tasks, but it can also help workers do more. It can also make new products and services possible.
DNB sees opportunities for the Netherlands. AI can make the country more productive and more prosperous. According to the analysis, the Netherlands starts from a favourable position. Smaller companies do still have some catching up to do.
AI could mean a lot, especially for smaller businesses. It can make knowledge and roles available that would otherwise stay out of reach. That matters for self-employed people and SMEs that cannot hire extra staff for every task.
According to DNB, the Netherlands does not need to build the most advanced AI models itself in order to benefit from AI. But companies do need affordable access to AI models and computing power. They also need to be able to switch easily between providers.
DNB also says the government should carefully weigh extra national requirements for AI. Such rules can be important, but they can also affect access to AI.
DNB also looks at inflation. AI can push prices up, but it can also hold them back. That depends on how quickly investment grows and whether companies can produce more cheaply. In the longer term, AI may actually reduce price pressure.
What does this mean for you?
For workers, the main message is calm but clear: look at which parts of your work could be done faster. If you often summarise texts, write emails, make reports or organise data, AI may be able to help.
That does not mean you should hand your work over to it. It mainly means learning how to use AI so you stay in control. If you practise now, you can better judge where AI is useful and where it is not.
For entrepreneurs, the message is practical. Start small, for example with one or two tasks. Choose tools that do not lock you into one provider. That fits DNB’s warning that companies must be able to switch easily.
AI can be especially interesting for the self-employed and for SMEs. A small team can gain access to knowledge and functions that would otherwise be hard or expensive to reach.
When can you use it in the Netherlands?
This news is not about a new AI tool, but about a report. DNB’s analysis can be downloaded for free from dnb.nl.
The report is about the Netherlands. In this analysis, DNB does not give figures for Belgium.
If you want to get started practically yourself, read more about AI for entrepreneurs or about getting started with AI at work.
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