This week on The Data Stack Show, Eric and John welcome Evan Wimpey, Director of Analytics Strategy at Elder Research. During the episode, Evan shares his diverse background, including his Marine Corps experience, and delves into the concept of synthetic controls in data science. Evan explains how synthetic controls create theoretical models to measure the impact of new competitors on existing businesses. The conversation also covers the importance of qualitative context in data analysis, challenges in communicating data insights, and Evan’s unique venture into data-related comedy, highlighting his book “Predictable Jokes.” Trust us, you won’t want to miss this episode! 

This week on The Data Stack Show, it’s a RudderStack round table as Eric and John are joined by Matthew Kelliher-Gibson. Together they delve into the current state and future potential of large language models (LLMs) and artificial intelligence (AI). The group discusses the hype versus reality of LLMs, their practical applications, and the challenges of implementing them in production environments. Drawing parallels to the early days of the iPhone, they explore the transformative potential of LLMs while acknowledging their limitations. The episode provides insights into AI’s evolving landscape, emphasizing the importance of understanding token limits, practical use cases, the integration of LLMs with customer data, and more. 

This week on The Data Stack Show, it’s the next rendition of the Cynical Data Guy. Eric and John are joined by Matthew Kelliher-Gibson, the Cynical Data Guy, for their monthly discussion. They engage in a lightning round, analyzing various LinkedIn posts related to data and data science. Topics include data teams’ transparency with stakeholders, simplifying complex data, generative AI’s role in cultural adoption, and the impact of the “sexiest job of the 21st century” article on data science careers. The group also discusses the influence of “Moneyball” on data science perceptions, the importance of understanding data models, and more.