2026 Insight Report: Leading the way with AI & Data Governance.

Foreword from Steve Salvin, Aiimi CEO 

“Information is exploding in volume and complexity. And it’s not just structured data – it’s video, audio, chat, images, and more, across countless platforms, formats, and sources. All this, against a backdrop of increasingly demanding customers and unprecedented regulatory scrutiny.  

So, organisations face more information, complexity, obligations, and expectations than ever before. Is AI the answer? 

In part, yes. AI is a powerful tool – but just pointing AI at the problem doesn’t solve it. In fact, it exposes the underlying problems, like weak data foundations, broken governance, and missing context. AI doesn’t paper over the cracks; it magnifies them. It’s why disillusionment in AI is rising, and why organisations are spending more than ever on platforms, people, and compute power – just to stay standing, not to get ahead. 

Right now, most organisations are still chasing their data, not controlling it. We need to change that – to get control over data and make it work for you. 

This means visibility and governance across your entire data estate: knowing where your data is, what it means, and what it’s worth. It means building an environment where always-on compliance becomes a competitive advantage, not a burden. 

Then you can really start pulling levers to benefit from your data: joining the dots, uncovering insight, building trust, and turning information into action. From here, you can operationalise AI with confidence; applying the right data, with the right model, to solve the right problem – making your data and its governance your ultimate point of difference.” 

What’s inside?

Explore six focused chapters packed with actionable strategies to take control of your data and harness the full potential of AI for the enterprise. This report brings together expert insights on how data and AI approaches will evolve in 2026 and beyond, alongside proven strategies from industry leaders and real-world case studies. It offers a clear vision for the future trajectory of AI opportunities and data-driven transformation, and how enterprises can successfully navigate what lies ahead.
 
Chapter 1: Elevating Data Governance to meet the AI agenda. 
Chapter 2: Getting your data AI-ready.  
Chapter 3: Identifying AI use cases that prove ROI.  
Chapter 4: Compliance in the age of automation and transparency.  
Chapter 5: Deploying AI Agents for smarter data management.  
Chapter 6: The evolution of AI search. 

Who should read this report? 

• CIOs, CDOs, and Heads of Data 

• Heads of Digital, Innovation, and AI 

• Information Security Leaders 

• Data Protection Officers 

• Heads of Information and Records Management