Internet traffic continues to surge globally as digital services, AI-driven applications, and real-time data exchange become ever more embedded in daily life. This new traffic peak confirms AMS-IX's position as one of the world's leading Internet Exchanges, continuing to play a pivotal role in enabling resilient, high-capacity global connectivity.
"I now take lunch early and at my desk. This is a big cultural change because French meals can be long. This has been one of my adjustments."
The Netherlands has the opportunity to build a European data center with 100,000 AI chips and 20 petabytes of storage, but the government is lagging behind in terms of financial commitment. Energy company Eneco and data center party Volt, who together want to build the AI gigafactory, warn that neighboring countries are moving ahead and emptying the EU subsidy pot of 20 billion euros. "While the Netherlands actually has very good conditions," according to Eneco.
Europe's freelance market has been expanding steadily, but the post-layoff acceleration is notable. According to a 2024 report from Malt, the number of highly skilled freelancers in tech across the EU grew by 18% year-over-year, with a sharp uptick among professionals who had been in full-time roles for five or more years before making the switch.
Solvinity provides the platform on which DigiD, MijnOverheid, and secure communications for Justice and Security run. The CDA spoke of "critical infrastructure for the Netherlands" that must remain in Dutch or European hands. D66 member Sarah El Boujdaini also opposed the sale: "Digital resilience is national security." The concern extends beyond this acquisition alone. Experts had previously demanded transparency about the deal. Municipalities that chose Solvinity because of national control, including Amsterdam, also felt blindsided.
A senior machine learning engineer at a top European AI lab can expect to earn between €120,000 and €180,000 annually. Their counterpart at Google DeepMind's US offices, OpenAI, or Anthropic routinely commands $350,000 to $700,000 in total compensation - sometimes more when stock is factored in.
According to Dealroom's 2024 European Tech report, mentions of "AI" in European startup pitch decks increased by over 200% between 2022 and 2024. VC funding for AI-adjacent startups surged, even as overall funding in Europe contracted. The signal was unmistakable: if you want capital, you need to speak the language of artificial intelligence.
Digital products & services shape almost every sector of modern life. They have become an important backbone of the world's economy and society. The balance of our digital economy depends on a delicate interplay between tech companies, startups, software developers, foundations, and other stakeholders - many of which have partly become autonomous in recent years.
The initial phase targets what the regulation classifies as "unacceptable risk" AI systems - including social scoring, real-time biometric surveillance in public spaces, and manipulative AI designed to exploit vulnerabilities. Penalties for violations can reach €35 million or 7% of global annual turnover, whichever is higher. For a seed-stage startup, that's not a fine. That's an extinction event.
He succeeds Dick Schoof, whose government collapsed in the summer of 2025, leading to snap elections. The 38-year-old centrist's D66 has teamed up with the centre-right Christian Democratic Appeal CDA party and the liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) to form a coalition. However, they will fall nine seats short of a parliamentary majority with only 66 seats, meaning Jetten will depend on opposition support.
Nscale has now raised over $4.5 billion across equity rounds in less than six months. The capital funds Nscale's vertically integrated AI infrastructure, consisting of GPU compute, networking, data services, and orchestration software, with expansion planned across Europe, North America, and Asia.
