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.