Time setter story: Saskia Lensink about GPT-NL

When Saskia Lensink joined TNO, she was looking for a place where science, innovation and societal impact come together. ‘From my very first project, I felt at home here. TNO gives me the opportunity to connect practice, innovation and science. Here, you can truly take the lead in innovation while working on applications that make a real difference to society.’

Today, Saskia is Product Owner of GPT-NL, the Dutch language model being developed by TNO, SURF and the Netherlands Forensic Institute. The project aims to create a trustworthy and sovereign AI model for organisations, aligned with European values, legislation and societal needs.

Working on the future of AI

For Saskia, AI is much more than a technology trend. It is closely linked to Europe’s future. ‘I think Europe is a fantastic place to live. I want to contribute to preserving our way of life, our prosperity and our values. We face major challenges, and I am convinced that AI can make a positive contribution to addressing them.’

At the same time, she sees the dilemmas involved on a daily basis. ‘AI is also a resource-intensive technology with a significant environmental footprint. We are faced with an important question: do we continue investing in trustworthy and sovereign AI developed according to our own standards and values, even if that means risking falling behind in the global AI race?’

For Saskia, the answer is clear: Europe must develop its own knowledge and technological capabilities. ‘For critical applications, we need to be able to develop our own solutions. Not because we must do everything ourselves, but because we do not want to become entirely dependent on others. In addition, it is important that the economic value created by this technology benefits our own economy, rather than largely flowing to the United States.’

At the same time, she remains pragmatic. ‘We are not building a Ferrari. For some applications, we are more like a Fiat, and for others perhaps even a bicycle. But don’t forget: bicycles and Fiats are everywhere. They create value every single day.’

Proud of what a small team can achieve

GPT-NL has grown into a project that is attracting significant attention across the Netherlands and Europe. Saskia works closely with researchers, developers, data partners and societal organisations.

‘It gives me enormous energy to work with such a diverse group of people towards a shared mission. We are invited to speak at many events, and we see more and more discussions emerging around sovereign AI and how we should approach it.’
‘But what I am most proud of is that, with a relatively modest budget of €13.5 million, we have developed a functioning language model from scratch. Perhaps even more importantly, organisations can now start using it in practice.’

Innovation remains a people-driven endeavour

Although GPT-NL revolves around advanced technology, Saskia believes that working at TNO is ultimately all about people. ‘The people here are fantastic. There is so much drive, curiosity and motivation to use talent for something greater than yourself.’

The culture surprised her most of all. ‘Everyone is incredibly busy, yet people always make time for one another. Colleagues are open, supportive and eager to share knowledge. I continue to be amazed by the level of expertise you can encounter at the coffee machine on any given Tuesday.’

For her, this combination of deep expertise and societal commitment makes TNO unique. ‘You work alongside people with world-class knowledge, yet they are constantly focused on one question: how can we use this to create something valuable for the Netherlands and for Europe?’

A time setter with a mission

For students considering a career in AI or technology, Saskia has a clear message. The greatest challenges of our time require not only smart technologies, but also people who are willing to make difficult decisions, bring together different perspectives and take responsibility for the impact of innovation. That is exactly what motivates her every day.

‘We must build the knowledge and capabilities needed to shape our own future. We are doing this not only for today, but also for the generations that come after us.’