This week on The Data Stack Show, John Wessel and Matt Kelliher-Gibson converse current tech trends through the lens of LinkedIn posts, discussing AI interfaces, technology evolution, and programming languages. They examine the overuse of dashboards and chat interfaces, explore the potential of AI hardware, and challenge the notion that programming languages like R are “dead”. The conversation highlights the importance of maintaining a cynical yet open-minded perspective on technological innovation, emphasizing that established technologies often persist because they work effectively. Key takeaways include the need for more thoughtful KPIs in tech, the unpredictability of technological advancement, the value of deterministic solutions in an increasingly AI-driven landscape, and so much more. 

This week on The Data Stack Show, John Wessel and Matt Kelliher-Gibson dive into the recent Duck Lake announcement, exploring the evolving landscape of data analytics technologies. They discuss DuckDB’s role as a lightweight, local analytics database and its potential as a caching layer for open table formats like Iceberg. The conversation also highlights the current state of data storage standards, focusing on agreements around Parquet and Iceberg, while noting the ongoing complexity in catalog management. Key takeaways include the importance of local compute solutions, the early stage of open table formats, and the potential for simplified data infrastructure that can provide faster, more cost-effective analytics workflows. The episode underscores the ongoing innovation in data technologies and the need for more streamlined, flexible data management solutions. Don’t miss it!

This week on The Data Stack Show, Eric and John welcome Michael Driscoll, Co-Founder and CEO of Rill Data. Mike discusses the transformative impact of AI on business intelligence (BI) and data analytics. He also explores the shift from traditional dashboard-based tools to more dynamic, code-driven, and AI-powered interfaces that provide deeper insights. During the conversation, the group emphasizes the importance of a metrics-first approach, the potential of leapfrog architectures using technologies like data lakes and real-time analytical databases, and how AI agents are increasingly becoming the primary users of data tools. The conversation highlights the evolving landscape of data infrastructure, where open standards, flexibility, and intelligent interfaces are reshaping how businesses interact with and understand their data, and more. 

This week on The Data Stack Show, Eric and John welcome back Matt Kelliher-Gibson for another edition of the Cynical Data Guy. The group dives into the latest tech trends, discussing Klarna’s AI-first customer support strategy and subsequent reversal, the high costs and limitations of big consulting firms in AI strategy, and the often-overlooked simplicity of data management in successful companies. The group critically examines the current state of AI implementation, data science practices, and corporate technology transformation, highlighting the importance of understanding business needs over technical accuracy. The conversation provides listeners with a humorous yet insightful look into the challenges of integrating new technologies, the role of human expertise, the potential pitfalls of blindly following industry trends, and so much more.