Artificial intelligence is an incredible force.

There is no doubt that AI offers significant benefits, from automating workflows to generating insights at scale. But as government continues to evolve and adopt AI, we must ensure that these systems are trustworthy.

This is especially critical when it comes to FOIA, privacy, and records management, which are the pillars of public trust.

As AI becomes more embedded in government operations, it must align with the mission, integrity, and accountability that the public expects.

AI Is Transforming Government—and Raising the Stakes

It is becoming increasingly evident that AI is reshaping how agencies operate.

But with this transformation comes a responsibility.

We must ensure that our foundational principles of transparency, accountability, and protection are not only preserved, but strengthened.

Because when AI is introduced into government systems, the risks are no longer just technical.

They are legal, ethical, and societal.

Protecting the Pillars of Trust

To build trustworthy AI systems, we must intentionally protect the core disciplines that uphold public trust.

FOIA: Ensuring Transparency in an Algorithmic World

AI introduces new forms of records and decision-making that must remain accessible.

• AI-generated outputs must be discoverable and retrievable
• Systems must support traceability of algorithmic decisions
• Agencies must ensure explainability so the public can understand how outcomes are produced

Transparency now extends beyond documents to include how systems think and operate.

Privacy: Embedding Protection by Design

AI has the ability to infer, predict, and profile in ways that challenge traditional privacy frameworks.

• Data collection must be limited to what is necessary
• Consent and purpose limitations must be enforced
• Sensitive data must be protected throughout its lifecycle

Privacy can no longer be an afterthought. It must be embedded into the design of every system.

Records Management: Modernizing the Information Lifecycle

AI generates dynamic and evolving content that does not fit neatly into traditional records frameworks.

• Agencies must update classification models for machine-generated data
• Retention schedules must account for evolving and iterative records
• Preservation strategies must ensure long-term access and integrity

Without modernization, records management risks falling behind the pace of technology.

Governance Is the Differentiator

AI does not reduce our obligations.

It expands them.

Strong governance is what ensures AI systems remain aligned with public expectations and legal requirements.

This requires:

• Cross-functional collaboration between FOIA, privacy, records, and IT teams
• Ethical oversight to guide how AI systems are designed and deployed
• Continuous monitoring and auditing to identify risks and ensure compliance

Governance is what transforms AI from a tool into a trusted system.

Building Systems That Deserve Trust

The future of government is not just digital.

It is intelligent.

But intelligence alone is not enough.

We must build systems that are:

• Transparent in how they operate
• Accountable in their outcomes
• Protective of individual rights
• Aligned with the public interest

Because ultimately, the goal is not just to adopt AI.

It is to ensure that as government becomes more advanced, it also becomes more trustworthy.