Amsterdam, 11 June 2026. In the space of twelve months, the share of working people in the Netherlands who use AI has doubled, rising from 40% (CBS, mid-2025) to 77% (OpenUp, May 2026). Searching for information remains the most common use (51% at work, 76% in private life), but one in five now also turns to AI for coaching or mental support. This figure is highest among women (27%) and younger people (29%).
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Not a single way of using it
In the workplace, people in the Netherlands mainly use AI to search for information (51%), generate ideas or brainstorm (44%) and write or report (41%). In their private lives, this group uses AI to look up information (76%), compare (online) purchases (31%) and plan holidays or trips (29%). Alongside these uses, 20% say they discuss emotions or thoughts with AI. That figure is highest among women (27%) and adults aged between 25 and 34 (29%). Among people who use AI to talk about their thoughts and emotions, use ranges from mild forms such as practical advice (25%) and as a (reflective) diary (18%), through to AI as a replacement for a professional (12%) (see also the box below).
What psychologists see in practice
OpenUp works with more than 200 experts, including many psychologists, who support employees. Their observations confirm that the use of AI for emotions and thoughts can vary widely and is shaped by the user and the context. Gijs Coppens, healthcare psychologist and founder of OpenUp: “Clients use AI to organise their thoughts, prepare for difficult conversations, or to see their own patterns laid out in front of them. AI works for those uses and I certainly encourage it.” At the same time, practice sometimes reveals a different picture, for example among people with an anxiety disorder. When people seek a great deal of reassurance and confirmation, AI ends up feeding the very complaint. That is why, in such cases, the advice is to use AI not at all, only sparingly, or with the involvement of a professional.
Across all of the experts’ observations, the same theme recurs: the impact depends less on AI itself and more on the role the user assigns to it. Those who use AI to see their patterns gain something from it. Those who use AI to escape discomfort are not helping themselves.
A question of design
The fact that so many working people in the Netherlands are finding their way to AI for coaching and mental support is, in itself, positive. AI is accessible, always available and helps some users with practical coping and reflection. The part for which AI is counterproductive calls for design and policy choices that are not yet a given today.
Gijs Coppens, healthcare psychologist and founder of OpenUp: “It is good news that so many people are turning to AI to deal with their thoughts and feelings. At the same time, our psychologists see that for some clients it goes wrong. That is why we are building AI that, with the right tuning, can ask deeper questions rather than simply confirming, and that knows when a human is needed in the process. Think of AI that, after 15 minutes, asks: would you like to speak to a psychologist about this now? And then refers you straight to the right person.”
The use of AI to discuss emotions and thoughts ranges from practical advice to direct mental support. OpenUp had 290 open-text responses about the use of AI for emotions and thoughts classified into eight types of use:
- 25% ask for practical advice and coping tips (sleep, parenting, dealing with stress)
- 18% use AI as a talking diary to organise their thoughts
- 12% vent frustration or emotions
- 12% treat AI as a replacement for a psychologist
- 9% look for information about mental or psychological complaints
- 6% use AI to formulate and practise responses or difficult conversations
- 5% see AI as a conversation partner when there is no one to talk to
- 13% are other responses that do not fall directly into one of the categories above
The majority are therefore mildly supportive. A small share use AI as a self-chosen therapist substitute or as a social substitute.
Other notable figures from the research
- 22% of respondents have negative feelings about the rise of AI, while 37% feel positive about it.
- 11% of working people in the Netherlands sometimes sleep badly because of AI, peaking at 15% among 18 to 34-year-olds.
- 11% worry about losing their own job, rising to 18% among knowledge workers aged 18 to 35. 27% of working people in the Netherlands expect AI to have a negative effect on the number of jobs across their organisation as a whole.
- 41% of respondents feel barely or not at all supported by their employer in the AI transition.
- 33% of respondents say their company is preparing for the AI transition, while 37% of respondents (partly) disagree with the statement that their organisation is preparing for the AI transition.
- Greater use of AI shows a strong correlation (r=0.47) with a more positive view of AI’s influence on society. Greater use of AI also goes hand in hand with fewer negative feelings (r=0.34) and more confidence in keeping up (r=0.31).
- Employer support also shows a correlation (r=0.28) with more positive feelings about AI and greater confidence in keeping up.
About the research
OpenUp conducted independent research in May 2026 among 1,575 working people in the Netherlands. The research was carried out by NorthSea and Prime Insights. The questionnaire consisted of 25 questions about AI use, feelings about AI, job worries and the employer context.
About OpenUp
OpenUp helps employees grow, at work and beyond. Through an accessible platform, OpenUp offers companies direct support to build resilient, engaged teams, including one-to-one sessions with psychologists and physical health experts, interactive group sessions and online courses. More than 2,000 organisations and 600,000 employees use OpenUp. www.openup.com
Press contact
Ruben van Beelen, Head of Marketing, press@openup.com
