AI Glossary Term
What does “Data Provenance” mean?
Definition
The documented origin, ownership, and history of a dataset or model artifact.
How Data Provenance works
Example
Before training on a text collection, a team checks where each source came from and what its license allows. Anything with unclear permission is excluded.
Why it matters
Knowing where data came from affects legality, quality, and trust. It also helps answer questions about copyright and consent.
Common questions
What does a provenance record include?
Source, collector, date, license or consent terms, and later modifications.
Why does it matter for AI?
Training data can raise copyright, privacy, and bias questions, so documented origins make them easier to address.
Is there a standard?
Initiatives such as the Data Provenance Initiative and metadata standards exist, but practice varies.