Trustworthy Data Journeys AI and the Provenance Paradigm

Artificial intelligence (AI) systems are now integral to decision-making across industries, yet concerns around fairness, transparency, and accountability continue to undermine public trust. As models grow in complexity, understanding how data flows through these systems becomes essential. AI-driven lineage offers a solution by providing dynamic, real-time tracking of data and model transformations, enabling transparency throughout the AI lifecycle. This paper explores the critical role of lineage in establishing fair and accountable AI systems. We analyze existing tools, frameworks, and standards, propose a methodology for implementing AI-driven lineage, and present a layered framework that supports ethical governance and regulatory compliance.