As AI systems become more powerful, questions surrounding accountability, data quality, and decision-making are moving to the forefront of global policy discussions. Many organizations treat data as a proxy for intelligence, yet data alone cannot produce meaningful outcomes. As AI systems become more embedded in decision-making processes, Long identifies identity as the next critical dimension of competitive advantage. AI systems are shaped by the data they are trained on and the frameworks that guide their development. She says, “In the next era of artificial intelligence, identity is governance, and governance will determine who shapes the future.”