The Data Stack Show

This episode is a re-air of one of our most popular conversations from this year, featuring insights worth revisiting. Thank you for being part of the Data Stack community. Stay up to date with the latest episodes at datastackshow.com.This week on The Data Stack Show, John and Matt dive into the latest trends in AI, discussing the evolution of GPT models, the role of tools in reducing hallucinations, and the ongoing debate between data warehouses and agent-based approaches. They also explore the complexities of risk-taking in data teams, drawing lessons from Nate Silver’s book on risk and sharing real-world analogies from cybersecurity, football, and political campaigns. Key takeaways include the importance of balancing innovation with practical risk management, the need for clear recommendations from data professionals, the value of reading fiction to understand human behavior in data, and so much more.Highlights from this week’s conversation include:Initial Impressions of GPT-5 (1:41)AI Hallucinations and the Open-Source GPT Model (4:06)Tools and Determinism in AI Agents (6:00)Risks of Tool Reliance in AI (8:05)The Next Big Data Fight: Warehouses vs. Agents (10:21)Real-Time Data Processing Limitations (12:56)Risk in Data and AI: Book Recommendation (17:08)Measurable vs. Perceived Risk in Business (20:10)Security Trade-Offs and Organizational Impact (22:31)The Quest for Certainty and Wicked Learning Environments (27:37)Poker, Process, and Data Team Longevity (29:11)Support Roles and Limits of Data Teams (32:56)Final Thoughts and Takeaways (34:20)The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it’s needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode is a re-air of one of our most popular conversations from this year, featuring insights worth revisiting. Thank you for being part of the Data Stack community. Stay up to date with the latest episodes at datastackshow.com. This week on The Data Stack Show, John and Matt welcome Pedram Navid, Chief Dashboard Officer at Dagster Labs. During the conversation, Pedram shares his career evolution from consulting to his current role, where he oversees data, developer relations (DevRel), and marketing. The discussion delves into the synergies between DevRel and marketing, emphasizing the importance of understanding developers' learning preferences. Pedram explains data orchestration, highlighting its role in managing and automating data workflows. He also discusses Daxter's unique asset-based approach, which enhances visibility and control over data processes, catering to users from novices to experts, and so much more. Highlights from this week’s conversation include:Pedram’s Background and Journey in Data (0:47)Joining Dagster Labs (1:41)Synergies Between Teams (2:56)Developer Marketing Preferences (6:06)Bridging Technical Gaps (9:54)Understanding Data Orchestration (11:05)Dagster's Unique Features (16:07)The Future of Orchestration (18:09)Freeing Up Team Resources (20:30)Market Readiness of the Modern Data Stack (22:20)Career Journey into DevRel and Marketing (26:09)Understanding Technical Audiences (29:33)Building Trust Through Open Source (31:36)Understanding Vendor Lock-In (34:40)AI and Data Orchestration (36:11)Modern Data Stack Evolution (39:09)The Cost of AI Services (41:58)Differentiation Through Integration (44:13)Language and Frameworks in Orchestration (49:45)Future of Orchestration and Closing Thoughts (51:54)The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, the CDP for developers. Each week we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode is a re-air of one of our most popular conversations from this year, featuring insights worth revisiting. Thank you for being part of the Data Stack community. Stay up to date with the latest episodes at datastackshow.com. This week on The Data Stack Show, John chats with Paul Blankley, Founder and CTO of Zenlytic, live from Denver! Paul and John discuss the rapid evolution of AI in business intelligence, highlighting how AI is transforming data analysis and decision-making. Paul also explores the potential of AI as an "employee" that can handle complex analytical tasks, from unstructured data processing to proactive monitoring. Key insights include the increasing capabilities of AI in symbolic tasks like coding, the importance of providing business context to AI models, and the future of BI tools that can flexibly interact with both structured and unstructured data. Paul emphasizes that the next generation of AI tools will move beyond traditional dashboards, offering more intelligent, context-aware insights that can help businesses make more informed decisions. It’s an exciting conversation you won’t want to miss.Highlights from this week’s conversation include:Welcoming Paul Back and Industry Changes (1:03)AI Model Progress and Superhuman Domains (2:01)AI as an Employee: Context and Capabilities (4:04)Model Selection and User Experience (7:37)AI as a McKinsey Consultant: Decision-Making (10:18)Structured vs. Unstructured Data Platforms (12:55)MCP Servers and the Future of BI Interfaces (16:00)Value of UI and Multimodal BI Experiences (18:38)Pitfalls of DIY Data Pipelines and Governance (22:14)Text-to-SQL, Semantic Layers, and Trust (28:10)Democratizing Semantic Models and Personalization (33:22)Inefficiency in Analytics and Analyst Workflows (35:07)Reasoning and Intelligence in Monitoring (37:20)Roadmap: Proactive AI by 2026 (39:53)Limitations of BI Incumbents, Future Outlooks and Parting Thoughts (41:15)The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it’s needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode is a re-air of one of our most popular conversations from this year, featuring insights worth revisiting. Thank you for being part of the Data Stack community. Stay up to date with the latest episodes at datastackshow.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode is a re-air of one of our most popular conversations from this year, featuring insights worth revisiting. Thank you for being part of the Data Stack community. Stay up to date with the latest episodes at datastackshow.com. This week on The Data Stack Show, Ryan Dolley joins Eric and John to discuss his unique journey from playwriting to leading product strategy in the data industry. The conversation explores the evolution of business intelligence (BI), the growing influence of AI on analytics, and the shifting skill sets required for data professionals. Key topics include the challenges of adapting to rapid technological change, the importance of embracing engineering practices in BI, and the need for continuous learning. Listeners will gain insights into how AI is transforming data roles, why storytelling remains central to analytics, practical advice for thriving in a fast-changing industry, and so much more. Highlights from this week’s conversation include:Ryan’s Journey: From Playwriting to Data (1:05)Making a Living as a Playwright (3:02)Transitioning to BI: Night School and First Data Jobs (4:12)Storytelling and Data: The Art of BI (6:22)Early BI Work: Data Warehouses and PDF Reports (8:33)Moving from Utilities to Consulting (13:03)Building vs. Implementing: Product Strategy Lessons (16:37)The AI Shift in BI and Analytics (18:41)Automation Anxiety: The Human Side of Data Change (22:16)The Evolving Role of BI Experts (25:18)Adapting to Change: Learning Code and Experimentation (29:34)AI and the Future of Embedded Analytics (33:38)Capturing Intent: The Value of Modern BI Interfaces (37:03)Bridging the Data and Software Engineering Gap (39:13)The Historical Divide: Data vs. Software Engineering (43:06)Organizational Challenges: Where Does BI Belong? (46:05)Reflections on Self-Service BI and Value (48:46)If Not Data: Ryan’s Alternate Career Paths (49:04)Final Thoughts and Takeaways (50:17)The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it’s needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode is a re-air of one of our most popular conversations from this year, featuring insights worth revisiting. Thank you for being part of the Data Stack community. Stay up to date with the latest episodes at datastackshow.com. This week on The Data Stack Show, the crew brings you another conversation live from Data Council in Oakland, California. In this episode, Viktor Kessler from Vakamo explores the evolution of data architecture from rigid warehouses to flexible Lakehouse systems. Powered by Apache Iceberg, this new approach enables seamless data sharing, governance, and potential monetization. Viktor discusses how open-source innovation is transforming data management, highlighting the shift towards treating data as a product and the emerging potential for AI-driven data exchanges. The conversation provides insights into the future of decentralized, adaptable data infrastructure and so much more. Highlights from this week’s conversation include:Viktor's Background and Journey in Data (1:20)Evolution of Data Architecture (4:41)The Lakehouse Concept (7:12)Open Source Innovation (11:05)Data Production and Decentralization (15:06)Governance in Decentralized Systems (18:53)Data Economy and Monetization (21:15)Security Concerns in Data Processing (24:21)Impact on Data Consumers (27:37)Compaction Issues in Data Tables (29:39)Open Source Lake Keeper Tool and Parting Thoughts (33:02)The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, the CDP for developers. Each week we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode is a re-air of one of our most popular conversations from this year, featuring insights worth revisiting. Thank you for being part of the Data Stack community. Stay up to date with the latest episodes at datastackshow.com.This week on The Data Stack Show, Eric and John welcome Misha Laskin, Co-Founder and CEO of ReflectionAI. Misha shares his journey from theoretical physics to AI, detailing his experiences at DeepMind. The discussion covers the development of AI technologies, the concepts of artificial general intelligence (AGI) and superhuman intelligence, and their implications for knowledge work. Misha emphasizes the importance of robust evaluation frameworks and the potential of AI to augment human capabilities. The conversation also touches on autonomous coding, geofencing in AI tasks, the future of human-AI collaboration, and more. Highlights from this week’s conversation include:Misha's Background and Journey in AI (1:13)Childhood Interest in Physics (4:43)Future of AI and Human Interaction (7:09)AI's Transformative Nature (10:12)Superhuman Intelligence in AI (12:44)Clarifying AGI and Superhuman Intelligence (15:48)Understanding AGI (18:12)Counterintuitive Intelligence (22:06)Reflection's Mission (25:00)Focus on Autonomous Coding (29:18)Future of Automation (34:00)Geofencing in Coding (38:01)Challenges of Autonomous Coding (40:46)Evaluations in AI Projects (43:27)Example of Evaluation Metrics (46:52)Starting with AI Tools and Final Takeaways (50:35)The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, the CDP for developers. Each week we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode is a re-air of one of our most popular conversations from this year, featuring insights worth revisiting. Thank you for being part of the Data Stack community. Stay up to date with the latest episodes at datastackshow.com.This week on The Data Stack Show, Eric and John explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on technology and business. They discuss AI's rapid advancements, drawing parallels to historical shifts like e-commerce. The conversation explores the future of roles within companies, particularly in data management and SaaS products, and considers the broader implications for business operations. They also touch on the changing landscape of data roles, the accessibility of AI-driven services, the potential for AI to democratize high-value services and reshape industries, and more. Highlights from this week’s conversation include:The Impact of AI (1:25)Historical Context of Technology (2:31)Pre-existing Infrastructure for Change (4:42)AI as a Personal Assistant (7:10)Future of Company Roles (9:13)Managing Teams in a Dystopian AI Future (12:31)Business Architecture Choices (15:52)Integration Tool Usage (18:07)AI's Impact on Data Roles (21:53)AI as an Interface (24:04)Trust in AI vs. SQL (27:12)Snowflake's Acquisition of Dataflow (29:54)Regression to the Mean Concept (33:49)AI's Role in Data Platforms (37:04)User Experience in Data Tools (44:41)Future of Data Tools (46:57)Environment Variable Setup (51:10)Future of Software Implementation and Parting Thoughts (52:10)The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, the CDP for developers. Each week we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on The Data Stack Show, Barry McCardel, CEO and Co-Founder of Hex, joins Eric Dodds and John Wessel to discuss the transformative impact of AI on data teams and the broader data industry. The conversation explores how AI is reshaping workflows, team structures, and the very definition of data roles, while also addressing the anxieties and opportunities that come with rapid change. Barry shares Hex’s journey from having a dedicated AI team to fully integrating AI across the product, and offers insights on industry consolidation, the infinite demand for data insights, and the importance of embracing change. Key takeaways include the need for data professionals to adapt and focus on problem-solving, the growing value of context and curation, the competitive advantage for organizations that leverage AI-driven tools and foster a culture of innovation, and so much more. Highlights from this week’s conversation include:Welcoming Back Barry to The Show (1:07)Discussing Change, Uncertainty, And Anxiety In Data Roles (3:13)Exploring Excitement And Opportunity In AI Adoption (6:20)Redefining Data Roles And The Infinite Demand For Insight (9:37)The Impact Of AI On Data Workflows And Team Mindset (12:52)Evolving Team Structures And The End Of The Magic Team (16:49)Integrating AI Into Product Development At Hex (20:44)Comparing Industry Approaches To AI Features (24:56)How AI Changes Daily Workflows For Data Teams (28:52)The Virtuous Cycle Of Context, Curation, And Self-Serve (32:39)Managing Context And Evaluating AI Agent Performance (36:52)The Expanding Role Of Data Professionals In The AI Era (40:45)Industry Consolidation And The Modern Data Stack (44:32)Lessons From Acquisitions And Platform Shifts (48:18)Key Takeaways And Looking Ahead To Future Episodes (52:16)The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it’s needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this bonus episode, Eric and John preview their upcoming conversation with Barry McCardel of Hex.The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it’s needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on The Data Stack Show, Alexander Patrushev joins John to share his journey from working on mainframes at IBM to leading AI infrastructure innovation at Nebius, with stops at VMware and AWS along the way. The discussion explores the evolution of AI and cloud infrastructure, the five pillars of successful machine learning projects, and the unique challenges of building and operating modern AI data centers—including energy consumption, cooling, and networking. Alexander also delves into the practicalities of infrastructure as code, the importance of data quality, and offers actionable advice for those looking to break into the AI field. Key takeaways include the need for strong data foundations, thoughtful project selection, and the value of leveraging existing skills and tools to succeed in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Don’t miss this great conversation.Highlights from this week’s conversation include:Alexander’s Background and Early Career at IBM (1:06)Moving From Mainframes to Virtualization at VMware (4:09)Transitioning to AWS and Machine Learning Projects (8:22)What Was Missed From Mainframes and the Rise of Public Cloud (9:03)Security, Performance, and Economics in Cloud Infrastructure (12:40)The Five Pillars of Successful Machine Learning Projects (15:02)Choosing the Right ML Project: Data, Impact, and Existing Solutions (18:01)Real-World AI and ML Use Cases Across Industries (19:42)Building Specialized AI Clouds Versus Hyperscalers (22:08)Performance, Scalability, and Reliability in AI Infrastructure (25:18)Data Center Energy Consumption and Power Challenges (28:41)Cooling, Networking, and Supporting Systems in AI Data Centers (30:06)Infrastructure as Code and Tooling in AI (31:50)Lowering Complexity for AI Developers and the Role of Abstraction (34:08)Startup Opportunities in the AI Stack (38:53)When to Fine-Tune or Post-Train Foundation Models (43:41)Comparing and Testing Models With Tool Use (47:49)Skills and Advice for Entering the AI Field (49:18)Final Thoughts and Encouragement for AI Newcomers (52:31)The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it’s needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this bonus episode, John previews the upcoming conversation with Alexander Patrushev of Nebius.The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it’s needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on The Data Stack Show, AI entrepreneur Alberto Rizzoli shares his journey from early computer vision breakthroughs to leading the automation of back-office workflows at V7. The discussion explores the shift from bespoke model training to configurable AI solutions, the impact of automation on business roles, and emerging best practices for integrating AI into enterprises. Listeners will gain insight into how AI infrastructure is moving from labs to everyday businesses, which roles are most vulnerable or secure amid automation, and why future-proofing your career means focusing on creativity, first principles, and continuous improvement. Don’t miss it! Highlights from this week’s conversation include:Setting the Stage: AI’s Hype and Today’s Innovations (1:16)Alberto’s Non-Tech Passions: Physics & UX (4:04)The Paradigm Shift: Machines that Adapt (6:22)Scaling AI: From Niche Apps to Mainstream Use (8:23)Large Models vs. Bespoke Solutions—Power Law in AI (11:07)Evolving Roles: From Engineer to End User (14:14)Simple vs. Complex AI Implementations (18:14)When to Scale from Simple AI to Production-Grade (22:40)Capturing Tacit Knowledge: Crowdsourcing vs. Centralization (27:22)The Challenge of Unstructured Process Documentation (30:08)Practical Impact: AI-Enabled Enterprise Leverage (33:29)ROI: Time Saved & Compound Effects in the Enterprise (38:08)Redefining Information Movers vs. Information Creators (44:14)Roles at Risk and the Case for Creativity (45:30)Alberto's Favorite New Tech & Future of User Experience (46:00)Spreadsheets, Business Logic, and AI’s Next Leap (48:41)The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it’s needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this bonus episode, Eric and John preview their upcoming conversation with Alberto Rizzoli of V7.The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it’s needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on The Data Stack Show, Ryan Dolley joins Eric and John to discuss his unique journey from playwriting to leading product strategy in the data industry. The conversation explores the evolution of business intelligence (BI), the growing influence of AI on analytics, and the shifting skill sets required for data professionals. Key topics include the challenges of adapting to rapid technological change, the importance of embracing engineering practices in BI, and the need for continuous learning. Listeners will gain insights into how AI is transforming data roles, why storytelling remains central to analytics, practical advice for thriving in a fast-changing industry, and so much more. Highlights from this week’s conversation include:Ryan’s Journey: From Playwriting to Data (1:05)Making a Living as a Playwright (3:02)Transitioning to BI: Night School and First Data Jobs (4:12)Storytelling and Data: The Art of BI (6:22)Early BI Work: Data Warehouses and PDF Reports (8:33)Moving from Utilities to Consulting (13:03)Building vs. Implementing: Product Strategy Lessons (16:37)The AI Shift in BI and Analytics (18:41)Automation Anxiety: The Human Side of Data Change (22:16)The Evolving Role of BI Experts (25:18)Adapting to Change: Learning Code and Experimentation (29:34)AI and the Future of Embedded Analytics (33:38)Capturing Intent: The Value of Modern BI Interfaces (37:03)Bridging the Data and Software Engineering Gap (39:13)The Historical Divide: Data vs. Software Engineering (43:06)Organizational Challenges: Where Does BI Belong? (46:05)Reflections on Self-Service BI and Value (48:46)If Not Data: Ryan’s Alternate Career Paths (49:04)Final Thoughts and Takeaways (50:17)The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it’s needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this bonus episode, Eric and John preview their upcoming conversation with Ryan Dolley of GoodData.The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it’s needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on The Data Stack Show, Eric Dodds and John Wessel explore how AI is reshaping the data industry, focusing on the ongoing cycles of bundling and unbundling within data infrastructure. They discuss the potential for closed ecosystems like Notion to deliver personalized, integrated experiences and examine recent industry moves such as Fivetran’s acquisitions. The conversation also highlights the challenges faced by both startups and incumbents, the influence of enterprise customers on product development, and the enduring importance of trade-offs when choosing between bundled and unbundled solutions. Key takeaways include the complexity of implementing AI across platforms, the likelihood that market cycles will persist despite technological advances, and the need for organizations to carefully weigh integration, flexibility, and long-term risk when adopting new data tools.Highlights from this week’s conversation include:AI’s Value and Early Ecosystem Integration (1:11)Closed Ecosystems and AI Opportunities (3:21)Personalized Software and the Blank Page Problem (6:17)Transition to Data Industry: Bundling Trends (9:56)Market Cycles and AI’s Role in Bundling (12:56)Incumbents, Innovation, and AI Layering (15:53Longevity of Legacy Systems and Ecosystem Risks (17:56)Switching Costs and Incumbent Advantages (20:33)People Dynamics and the Startup-to-Incumbent Arc (22:50)Enterprise Data Infrastructure: Engineering Challenges (26:33)Fragmentation, Bundling Value, and AI’s Insulation Effect (29:54)Too Many Tools: The Real Meaning Behind Bundling Demand (31:36)Trade-offs in Bundling, Unbundling, and AI (33:40)Final Thoughts and Takeaways (34:34)The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it’s needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on The Data Stack Show, the crew welcomes Eric Dodds back to the show as they dive into the realities of integrating AI and large language models into data team workflows. Eric, Matt and John discuss the promise and pitfalls of AI-driven automation, the persistent challenges of working with APIs, and the evolution from big data tools to AI-powered solutions. The conversation also highlights the risks of over-reliance on single experts, the critical importance of documentation and context, and the gap between AI marketing hype and practical implementation. Key takeaways for listeners include the necessity of strong data fundamentals, the hidden costs and risks of AI adoption, the importance of balancing efficiency gains with long-term team resilience, and so much more.Highlights from this week’s conversation include:Eric is Back from Europe (0:37)AI and Data: Jurisdiction and Comfort Level (4:00)APIs, Tool Calls, and Practical AI Limitations (5:08)Scaling, Big Data, and AI’s Current Constraints (9:16)Stakeholder-Facing AI and Data Team Risks (13:20)Self-Service Analytics and AI’s Real Impact (16:04)AI Hype vs. Reality and Uneven Impact (20:27)Cost, Context, and AI’s Practical Barriers (25:25)AI for Admin Tasks and Business Logic Complexity (29:13)Tribal Knowledge, Documentation, and Context Engineering (32:07)AI as a Productivity Accelerator and the “Gary Problem” (35:10)Healthy Conflict, Team Dynamics, and AI’s Limits (39:15)Back to Fundamentals: Good Practices Enable AI (41:47)Lightning Round: Favorite AI Tools and Workflow Integration (45:56)AI in Everyday Life and Closing Thoughts (48:14)The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it’s needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on The Data Stack Show, Eric and John welcome back Kostas Pardalis, long-time co-host of the Data Stack Show and now Co-Founder of typedef. The group discusses the rapid evolution of AI and data infrastructure. The conversation also explores how AI is accelerating industry change, the challenges of integrating large language models (LLMs) into data workflows, and the limitations of current semantic layers. Kostas shares insights on building next-generation query engines, the importance of using familiar engineering paradigms, and the need to make AI seamless and almost invisible in user experiences. Key takeaways include the necessity of practical, incremental innovation, the reality behind AI hype, strategies for making advanced data tools accessible and reliable for engineers and businesses alike, and so much more. Highlights from this week’s conversation include:Kostas’s Background and Career Timeline (1:10)Transition from RudderStack to Starburst Data (4:25)AI Acceleration and Industry Impact (9:37)AI Hype, Investment, and Polarized Reactions (12:05)Historical Parallels and Tech Adoption (13:54)AI Disrupting Tech Workers and Internal Drama (18:56)Experimentation Phase and Future AI Applications (24:01)Invisible AI and User Experience (28:21)AI in Data Infrastructure and LLMs (34:24)SQL, LLMs, and Engineering Solutions (36:35)Standardization, Semantic Layers, and Data Modeling (41:01)Introduction to typedef (45:49)Productionizing AI Workloads with typedef (51:36)Familiarity, Reliability, and Engineering Best Practices (57:24)Security, Enterprise Concerns, and Open Source Models (1:00:48)Final Thoughts and Takeaways (1:01:47)The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it’s needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this bonus episode, Eric and John welcome back longtime co-host of the Data Stack Show Kostas Pardalis to talk through all things AI and his co-founding of typedef.The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it’s needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.