AI+IM Forum Europe 2024: Embracing the Information Management Renaissance

The recent AI+IM Forum Europe in Manchester brought together industry leaders and practitioners to explore the evolving landscape of information management in the age of artificial intelligence. Here are my key takeaways from this thought-provoking event.

Setting the Stage: Parallels with Manchester's Cultural Heritage

A day before the event, I toured Manchester's Art Gallery and learned about the historic institution's current initiative to reimagine its collections which have sat unchanged for the past 20 years. Just as the gallery's curators are unflinchingly reevaluating their 6,600 pieces in the context of contemporary issues like power dynamics, war, gender, and climate change, the information management industry stands at a similar crossroads.

This parallel perfectly captures our moment: after two decades of relative stability (or perhaps stagnation), we find ourselves in the midst of a renaissance, catalyzed by AI and automation. It takes guts to change whether you're reimagining a centuries-old art collection or transforming how organizations manage information.

A Reimagined Event for a Transformed Industry

The forum itself reflected this spirit of transformation. While AI took center stage, the event emphasized a crucial point: AI is an accelerator, but it's still just technology. Success with AI requires three fundamental elements:

1. Accessible, accurate, high-quality data
2. Documented processes, policies, and governance
3. People – the subject matter experts who understand the information lifecycle and ecosystem

This holistic approach highlighted how AI is not just revolutionizing unstructured data management but elevating the importance of information management itself.

Building Meaningful Connections

The event featured an impressive lineup of speakers who brought diverse perspectives to these challenges. Christopher Barrat, networking expert and TedX speaker, set the tone with his emphasis on meaningful connections. At the welcome dinner, Dr. Claire Thorne, co-CEO of Tech She Can, shared insights about increasing diversity in technology and enabling social mobility.

Practical workshops led by Jacqueline Stockwell and Rachel Mitchell from Leadership Through Data provided hands-on guidance for leveraging tools like Microsoft Copilot and Power BI, bridging the gap between theory and implementation.

Hallmarks of the AI Revolution

The opening keynote panel, featuring Tori Miller Liu, Caroline Carruthers, and Joanna Drake, set the tone for the conference by highlighting how the role of information managers is expanding and diversifying. Caroline Carruthers offered a compelling analogy, comparing the current AI revolution to the Industrial Revolution – both marked by job displacement but also the creation of new opportunities.

The panel emphasized several critical points about the changing IM landscape:

• Organizations are placing greater emphasis on unstructured data management
• Traditional centralized repositories are giving way to multiple, interconnected systems
• The focus is shifting toward API-first solutions that prioritize interoperability
• Environmental sustainability concerns are growing regarding data centers and increasing data volumes

Responsible AI is Essential

Tim Callister from Visa delivered a sobering yet insightful presentation about implementing AI safely and effectively. His stark warning resonated throughout the room: "Eventually something disastrous will happen with AI and it will be revolutionary for all the wrong reasons."

His session provided crucial insights into the strategic considerations needed in this space:

• Organizations must ensure data is appropriate, accountable, and accurate
• There's a need to be realistic about data retention – as Callister noted, "Most people don't touch data that is older than 2 years"
• The EU AI Act Article 5, which focuses on prohibited AI practices, should serve as a fundamental boundary for organizations
• Data ethics should take precedence over speed of implementation
• "ESG is a good lever to use to lead into other conversations about ethics"

Information Management: From "Boredom to Board Room"

A fascinating case study presented by Pieter Lokker and Susan Lamb shared Shell's approach to IM maturity and AI governance. As Susan memorably put it, the goal is to take information management from "boredom to board room." Their presentation offered valuable practical guidance for elevating information management programs: 

• The importance of defining clear end goals while maintaining realistic expectations – as they emphasized, "we are not an information company"
• A shift from viewing data in silos to a more holistic approach
• Creative approaches to policy compliance, favoring engagement over discipline
• The value of cross-industry collaboration and benchmarking
• Strategic funding of line-of-business initiatives to gain stakeholder buy-in

Here were their top tips for advancing information management programs:

1. Connect the dots and create a multi-disciplinary team
2. Review your IM strategy and align with AI strategy and business objectives
3. Engage with stakeholders and "ride the AI wave" by connecting information management to successful AI implementation
4. Leverage existing policies and practices

Looking Ahead: Action Items and Challenges

The closing session, which I had the privilege of facilitating alongside Dave Jones, identified three key areas for focus:

Immediate Actions 🔥

We asked participants to share one thing they could action right away when they return to work:

• Audit our data, focusing on dark data
• Engage in cross-departmental conversations about AI
• Build a small LLM
• Align IM and AI policies - enforce disposal/retention policies

Key Challenges 🏔️

Participants also shared one thing that may challenge them and how they might overcome it. Challenges included:

• Define added value of information management
• Look at access to limit risk
• Convince stakeholders to engage with and support IM
• Figure out where to start

Research Priorities 🔎

Finally, we asked participants to name something they wanted to research and learn more about:

• How linguistic changes impact IM over time
• Intelligent document processing
• Effective data migration
• Effective networking behaviors

Conclusion

The AI+IM Forum Europe 2024 embodied the industry's current moment of transformation. Like the Manchester Art Gallery's bold reimagining of its collections, our industry is taking stock of its foundations while embracing new possibilities. The event demonstrated that while AI and automation are powerful catalysts for change, success ultimately depends on the fundamentals of good information management and the courage to evolve.

As we navigate this renaissance in information management, it's clear that the path forward requires both technical expertise and human wisdom. The forum provided not just insights into AI and automation, but a comprehensive vision of how organizations can better manage and prepare unstructured data for the future – a future that we are actively shaping through our collective expertise and courage to change.