Michelle Mellon-Werch Discusses AI Use in Public Pensions Systems
Michelle Mellon-Werch was quoted in the article “Are Al ‘Chatbot’ Records Subject to FOIA?” (subscription required). The article appeared on the website of the National Council of Teacher Retirement (NCTR), an independent association dedicated to safeguarding the integrity of public retirement systems in the United States and its territories to which teachers belong.
The piece takes a close look at whether AI records are subject to open records requests and what happens when AI-assisted work becomes part of the public record. As public pension systems embrace tools such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, there are emerging disclosure, governance and fiduciary risks leaders need to understand.
In the article, Michelle offers a timely, essential reminder: AI can enhance efficiency and analysis, but it cannot replace independent judgment or appropriate due diligence. Her guidance urges fiduciaries to verify key facts, critically evaluate AI-generated information and maintain human accountability at every stage of the decision-making process.
Michelle closes the article by saying, “Whether information comes from a consultant, a staff memorandum, or an AI platform, fiduciaries remain responsible for exercising independent judgment and conducting appropriate due diligence. Users should carefully evaluate AI-generated information, verify key facts against reliable sources, and avoid treating AI outputs as authoritative without further review.”
The article also notes that Michelle is a “valued NCTR Commercial Associate member and member of NCTR's Corporate Advisory Committee.”
