Data governance is the framework of policies, processes, and controls that ensure enterprise data is accurate, secure, compliant, and fit for purpose. In the context of AI, governance plays a pivotal role in defining how data is collected, processed, stored, and used for training and inference. It includes setting access permissions, maintaining audit logs, enforcing data quality standards, and ensuring compliance with regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA. Without strong data governance, AI initiatives risk being undermined by bias, inaccuracies, or legal exposure.