The Peculiar State of AI

📩 DOWNLOAD THE FREE SLIDES FROM THIS WEBINAR HERE: [INSERT EVENT PAGE URL] 🔍 AI in the Data Industry: Hype, Reality & Business Value 🎙️ Presented by Mike LG Artificial Intelligence is transforming the data industry at an unprecedented pace—but what does that actually mean for data professionals and organisations trying to create business value? In this session, Mike LG explores how the rise of Large Language Models (LLMs) has changed the way organisations access, analyse, and interact with data. He explains why AI has become such a significant force in the industry, how it can help turn unstructured information into actionable insights, and why data teams are increasingly being asked to support AI initiatives. Drawing on real-world projects and practical experience, Mike shares examples of AI-powered applications including knowledge retrieval systems, product classification, feedback auditing, and financial insight agents. He demonstrates how AI can help bridge the gap between complex data environments and the everyday questions business users need answered, enabling faster access to evidence and more informed decision-making. The session also challenges some of the hype surrounding AI. Rather than viewing AI as a replacement for data platforms, governance, or analytics teams, Mike argues that it should be treated as another tool in the data professional's toolkit—one that succeeds only when supported by strong processes, high-quality data, and a deep understanding of business needs. Whether you're a data leader, analyst, engineer, architect, or business stakeholder, this talk provides practical guidance on how to think about AI adoption, where it can create genuine value, and what organisations need to do to use it effectively. 👤 Speaker Bio: Mike LG (Mike Le Galloudec) is Head of Engineering at Oakland, a leading data consultancy and part of Softcat. With a background in data science, machine learning, data engineering, cloud technologies, and AI implementation, Mike specialises in helping organisations build data-driven solutions that deliver measurable business value. He is also a recognised speaker, content creator, and advocate for the data and AI community. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction & Mike’s Background 05:30 – How AI Changed the Data Industry 11:30 – Why AI Matters to Data Professionals 16:30 – From Unstructured Data to Structured Insight 22:30 – AI-Powered Querying & Decision Support 27:30 – Real-World AI Use Cases and Projects 38:00 – AI Transformation, Hype & Industry Trends 46:00 – Models, Tools & Business Applications 54:00 – AI as a Business Tool, Not a Strategy 01:02:00 – Process, Data & Technology Foundations 🔗 Resources & Links: 👉 Join our FREE Q&A Forum: https://forum.data-community.org/invites/c... 👉 Connect with the Data Community: https://www.linkedin.com/company/data-comm... 👉 Oakland: https://www.oakland.com/ 👉 Connect with Mike LG on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-lg/