Amsterdam launches ChatAmsterdam: its own AI assistant for civil servants

Amsterdam has launched ChatAmsterdam, a self-developed AI assistant designed to help civil servants with tasks such as writing texts, creating summaries, and analyzing complex documents. The system is designed with security and privacy in mind. All data entered by civil servants remains within the municipality and is not used to further train the underlying language model.

This launch follows a period in which Amsterdam tightened its policies on the use of generative AI and tools such as ChatGPT, Midjourney, and Copilot. ChatAmsterdam provides a safer and more efficient alternative that remains fully under the municipality's control. "With ChatAmsterdam, we are taking the next step towards digital independence and the secure, responsible use of artificial intelligence within the organization," the municipality stated.

The AI assistant was developed following an extensive six-month trial period (November 2024 - May 2025), in which more than 800 civil servants participated. During this period, over 34,000 tasks were completed, and 10,000 chats were conducted. The trial was used to gather experiences and identify potential risks, leading to necessary adjustments.

ChatAmsterdam is part of the Digital City Agenda, where the City of Amsterdam is working on a digital city that is human, reliable, and future-proof. It also aligns with national government policies encouraging the use of European open-source solutions.

Amsterdam is now exploring how the knowledge and experience gained with ChatAmsterdam can be shared with other municipalities and government agencies. This could contribute to greater digital independence within the public sector.

Read the full article on the City of Amsterdam's website: Amsterdam article.