Information Awareness Week Highlights: Why Records Management Matters More Than Ever in the Age of AI
In her address, Freedom of Information Commissioner Alice Linacre reinforced that access to government information relies on records being properly created, managed and discoverable. As AI and automated decision-making continue to expand, this foundation becomes even more critical.
The seminar highlighted three key priorities for organisations:
- Commit to accessible, high-quality recordkeeping to support accountability and enable FOI access
- Improve transparency around AI and automated decision-making, including how decisions are made and documented
- Strengthen proactive information release to build public trust and provide reliable “source of truth” data for AI systems
For Records and Information Managers, this reinforces a familiar but increasingly urgent mandate. Poor recordkeeping, inconsistent naming, or fragmented storage can undermine access, frustrate FOI processes, and limit the effectiveness of AI tools.
The session also underscored growing public expectations. FOI requests are increasing, while trust in AI-driven decision-making remains low. Transparency, supported by well-governed records, is essential to bridging this gap.
As organisations prepare for greater AI adoption, Information Awareness Week serves as a timely reminder: AI is only as effective as the information it relies on. Strong governance, defensible recordkeeping, and proactive disclosure are not optional, they are critical to ensuring accountability, compliance and public confidence in the digital age.