IM BLOG: From AI Hype to IM Impact: Where Information Management Adds Real Value

We know that AI has been on everyone’s lips and at the centre of conference programs and industry conversations for at least the past three years. We have been repeatedly told that it is coming, that we need to adopt it, and that it will change the way we work.

I believe it is now time to shift the conversation. Rather than focusing on how to use AI tools or worrying about prompts and platforms, we need to talk about why information management practitioners are critical to making AI effective, trusted, and valuable for organisations.

What has been discussed far less is how AI should be governed, how its decisions can be trusted, and how it should be embedded within strong information management frameworks. This is where our profession matters most. And we can grab this and elevate our profession tenfold. This is an opportunity we cannot let go of.

As with every major change in the information management industry, AI has reignited concerns about job loss or role reduction. This time, those concerns have been louder than usual. I am pleased to say that this fear is misplaced.

AI does not diminish the role of information management practitioners. It strengthens and elevates it.

AI relies on quality information, clear structure, accountability, and defensible decision-making. Without these foundations, AI cannot deliver meaningful or sustainable business value. These are not technical problems , they are information management challenges, and they require professional judgement.

To support members through this shift, RIMPA will make AI and Information Management a central focus throughout 2026. This includes:

• A three-part eBook series on AI and Information Management
• AI and IM as the core theme for RIMPA Live 2026
• A national roadshow program focused on AI-enabled information governance
• The development of a dedicated AI and Information Management micro-credential
• Practical workshops designed to demonstrate how IM practitioners enable AI to become an effective and trusted business tool

These initiatives are intentionally focused on the role of the practitioner -not the technology, and on ensuring AI is implemented responsibly, transparently, and with confidence.

This is not a technology wave that should bury us. It is one we should ride with confidence, credibility, and pride.

Information management practitioners are not observers in the AI era. We are essential to its success and RIMPA is committed to supporting our members to lead with authority and assurance.

In recent years, much of the discussion around artificial intelligence has focused on what the technology can do. Far less attention has been given to how organisations should manage the information AI relies on, produces, and acts upon.

This is where information management professionals step out of the background and into a leadership role.

AI doesn’t usually fail, poor management does

When AI projects struggle or get switched off, it’s rarely because the technology itself doesn’t work. More often, it’s because there are no clear rules around how information is managed.

Common problems include:

• AI using information that is inaccurate, outdated, or poorly controlled
• Decisions being made without anyone clearly responsible for them
• Organisations not being able to explain why an outcome occurred
• Confusion about what information should be kept, reviewed, or deleted
• These issues aren’t technical problems, they are information management problems.

AI simply works with whatever information it is given. If that information isn’t well organised, trusted, and governed, AI will only make the risks bigger and happen faster.

From “using AI” to managing AI properly

For information management professionals, the real shift is simple. Our value is not in learning how to run AI tools or keep up with the latest technology.

Our value is in making sure AI is built on good information and clear rules.

This includes:

• Making sure information is accurate, organised, and fit for use
• Deciding what counts as a record when AI is involved
• Setting clear rules for how long AI-created information is kept or deleted
• Making sure someone is accountable for AI decisions
• Ensuring outcomes can be explained, checked, and defended

This work is essential. Without it, AI cannot be trusted, no matter how impressive the technology looks.

Why this strengthens the IM profession

• Every major technology change has raised fears about job losses in information management. History shows the opposite usually happens.
• When work becomes more complex, organisations need more oversight and governance, not less.
• AI creates more information, speeds up decisions and increases legal, ethical, and regulatory expectations. This does not reduce the need for IM professionals. It makes their role more important, more visible, and more strategic.

IM practitioners are no longer just managing records. They are:

• Advising on risk and accountability
• Designing trusted information environments
• Supporting better organisational decisions

Moving forward with confidence

The AI conversation is changing. Organisations are starting to realise that success is not about moving fast or using the newest tools.

It is about:

• Control
• Clarity
• Confidence

This is where information management leads. Rather than being pushed aside by technology, IM practitioners are essential to making sure AI is used safely, responsibly, and in a way that delivers real value.

Final thought

AI is not here to replace information management. It is here to depend on it.

As we move through 2026, the organisations that succeed will be those that understand this and the information management practitioners who are ready to lead will be at the centre of that success.

Together, let’s turn AI into an opportunity we own, not a change we fear.

Meet your blog author:

 

Anne Cornish CSRIM MRIM (Life)

Anne is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in the information and records management arena, working with all levels of government and most large private industry sectors. She is the CEO of RIMPA Global, the peak body for records and information management professionals in Australasia and beyond.