Why “Data First, AI Later” is More Than a Slogan

...It's a Unifying Vision for the Future of Healthcare.

The healthcare ecosystem is undergoing unprecedented transformation. Yet, amidst the noise of innovation, one simple truth continues to echo across all sectors I engage with:

We cannot implement responsible, effective AI in health systems without first strengthening the foundations of data governance, quality, and collaboration.

This is the heart of the movement I co-founded: 👉 Data First, AI Later.

And it is not just a slogan. It is a strategic compass that naturally integrates the three trends and communities I work within:

1️⃣ Digital Transformation & Health Innovation

Through Digital Health Portugal, we see the need to scale interoperable systems, empower digital leaders, and modernize how care is delivered. But transformation isn't possible without trust in data, and trust starts with good stewardship, clarity of purpose, and ethical infrastructure.

Digital transformation must be rooted in data maturity, not just shiny apps or AI algorithms.

2️⃣ Policy Dialogue & Accountability

With the Think Tank SNS de Contas Certas, in Portugal, we engage stakeholders to co-create public policies that are sustainable, transparent, and inclusive. Here, data becomes not just a technical asset but a tool for accountability and legitimacy.

AI cannot fix weak governance. But shared data can empower better decisions, smarter resource allocation, and system resilience.

3️⃣ AI & Health Data Expertise

At the Health Data Forum and the AI Expert Hub, we welcome global thought leaders and consultants shaping the next generation of digital health systems. Their challenge? Bridging the gap between technical possibility and real-world complexity.

That's where the Data First, AI Later principle plays a transformative role. Because AI without context becomes an abstraction. And data without collaboration becomes noise.

🌍 The Unifying Force: Collaboration

Whether we're designing AI use cases, implementing policy, or facilitating healthcare transformation, one element remains constant:

Collaboration is the missing operating system.

And that's where my work as a Collaboration Architect connects it all — helping stakeholders align, dialogue, and design together.

🧭 The Takeaway

"Data First, AI Later" is not about slowing down AI—it's about ensuring we move forward smarter, together, and grounded in reality.

It is:

• A roadmap for digital maturity,
• A demand for ethical leadership,
• And a framework for collaborative innovation.

About Health Data Forum Ltd

Health Data Forum Ltd is a UK-registered charity accelerating ethical, data-first digital health transformation. It was founded as the latest spin-off of Architecting Collaboration—a platform that started as a book series and has evolved into a trusted ecosystem of expert-led services in facilitation, data governance, and responsible AI adoption.

Backed by col.lab | collaboration laboratory Ltd—the store manager and incubator behind the platform—Health Data Forum Ltd leads the global Data First, AI Later movement and co-curates the My Health Data Experts network. These initiatives equip stakeholders across sectors with strategic insight, expert consulting, and practical tools to ensure that AI in healthcare is safe, inclusive, and rooted in robust data governance.

With support from founding donors like the George Mathew Family Foundation and partnerships across Europe and India, Health Data Forum Ltd is uniquely positioned to shape policy, build capacity, and deliver impact through a growing portfolio of global events, certification frameworks, and cross-sector collaborations.

About the Author

Paul Nunesdea is the pen name of Paulo Nunes de Abreu, a Collaboration Architect, IAF Certified™ Facilitator, and author of the Architecting Collaboration book series.

He curates the Architecting Collaboration platform, sharing insights on facilitation, dialogue, and systems thinking. As founder of col.lab | collaboration laboratory and co-founder of Debate Exímio Lda, Paul has designed and hosted transformative events across sectors.

He also leads the Health Data Forum, a UK-registered charity advancing the Data First, AI Later movement and curating a global network of independent experts in health data and AI.