Data Pipelines for AI – Qlik Connect 2024 Delegate Roundtable

The roundtable discussion at Qlik Connect 2024, moderated by Stephen Foskett, featured Tech Field Day delegates Keith Townsend, Denny Cherry, Joey D’Antoni, Gina Rosenthal, and Jay Cuthrell. They discussed the intersection of data pipelines and AI, emphasizing the importance of data quality, sustainability, and community engagement.

Key takeaways included:

• Sustainability and Business Context: The event highlighted NTT Data’s use of climate modeling data to make better business decisions, showcasing Qlik’s user-friendly approach to data-driven decisions.
• AI Council and Data Protection: The Qlik AI Council was introduced at Qlik Connect, and the delegates praised Qlik’s longstanding commitment to sustainability and community.
• Realistic AI Approach: The panelists appreciated Qlik’s nuanced approach to AI, balancing power consumption concerns with the potential benefits of AI in addressing climate change.
• Data Quality Emphasis: Joey and Denny emphasized that the effectiveness of AI heavily depends on the quality of data, with Qlik focusing on transforming from a dashboard software company to a comprehensive data analytics provider.
• Community and Ecosystem: The delegates noted Qlik’s strong community and ecosystem, which help users achieve business outcomes by simplifying complex problems through integrated solutions.
• Data Governance and Security: The importance of data governance and security was stressed, with the acknowledgment that many organizations struggle with these foundational aspects.
• Practical AI Implementation: The panelists discussed the importance of a progressive approach to AI, ensuring that business processes and data structures are well-defined before implementing advanced AI solutions.

Overall, the discussion highlighted Qlik’s commitment to providing a comprehensive, user-friendly platform for data and AI, while also addressing broader societal and environmental impacts.