Agentic AI needs a foundation you build—not a tool you buy

This article argues that agentic AI is poised to revolutionize data management within months, automating tasks like policy enforcement and data provisioning. However, successful implementation hinges on establishing a strong data foundation consisting of four key elements: active metadata, a semantic layer, quantifiable trust scoring, and policy as code. Organizations that proactively build this foundation will gain a competitive edge, while those who don't risk falling behind as data management transitions from governed to self-governing.