AI decisions are only as good as the data behind them, and most data cannot prove where it came from.
What is data provenance?
Data provenance is a verifiable record of where data originated and how it has changed. It answers three questions: who or what created this data, has it been altered, and who is accountable for it?
Why AI needs it
- Training data: models inherit the flaws of their data.
- Operational data: sensor and transaction data drive real decisions.
- Regulation and audit: organizations increasingly need to show the origin of data used in automated decisions.
The weak point: the source
Many provenance systems start recording after data has been collected. If the source itself is not trustworthy, the record simply preserves an unverified starting point.
Signing data at the source
When an authenticated device signs data at the moment of capture, provenance starts at the true origin. Every later change can be checked against that signature, and unauthorized changes break verification.
Provenance and sovereignty
Provenance also supports data sovereignty: knowing where data came from and where it lives helps nations and organizations keep control of it.
How VAI helps
VAI combines self-authenticating hardware, a secure network and accountable records so data can prove its origin from capture to audit. Explore VAI for data.