AI Expansion Pushes Enterprises to Overhaul Data Governance Practices

Survey Highlights

• Harris Poll surveyed more than 300 technology decision-makers earlier this year on behalf of Collibra, a data intelligence platform provider, with findings released Wednesday
• Nearly 90% of respondents identified data privacy protection as their top concern regarding AI initiatives
• More than 4 in 5 decision-makers reported that data ownership structures have shifted over the past year as AI efforts have accelerated

The shift in organizational focus reflects a broader recognition that data governance cannot be overlooked as companies pursue AI expansion. Stijn Christiaens, co-founder and chief data citizen at Collibra, observed that responsibility for data management has moved beyond individual departments. "Previously, maybe you had data responsibility sitting at a domain level," Christiaens explained. "Whereas now, because of AI, it is getting more executive visibility."

Governance Urgency and Implementation Challenges

Although data governance has long held importance in enterprise environments, the accelerated adoption of AI has created newfound pressure to establish robust processes. Business leaders understand that inadequate data management directly undermines AI objectives and threatens return on investment.

Significant obstacles are already hindering progress toward production-ready AI systems. According to an Informatica report released earlier this year, approximately two-thirds of organizations remain trapped in generative AI pilot phases, struggling to move beyond experimental stages. Concurrently, roughly 3 in 5 leaders face mounting pressure to accelerate project timelines.

Christiaens emphasized the interconnection between data quality and AI risk management: "A lot of the risks associated with AI are data risks: bad quality, ownership, privacy." He cautioned against overlooking these concerns, adding, "If you only focus on the opportunity… and don't take into account the risks, you're making a big mistake."

Recommended Actions for Technology Leaders

CIOs can prevent wasted resources and abandoned initiatives by conducting thorough evaluations of current data practices and pinpointing areas requiring enhancement. Engaging other members of the executive team to emphasize the significance of data lineage, diversity and quality represents another critical step, according to industry analysts.

Organizations must weigh regulatory and legal considerations as they modernize data management approaches. Different use cases demand varying levels of protective measures, with higher-risk applications requiring stricter controls. Some companies, including The Wendy's Company and EY, have adopted synthetic data solutions to strengthen privacy safeguards.