In this episode, we chat with David Jayatillake, VP of AI at Cube, about semantic layers and their crucial role in making AI work reliably with data.

We explore how semantic layers act as a bridge between raw data and business meaning, and why they're more practical than pure knowledge graphs.

David shares insights from his experience at Delphi Labs, where they achieved 100% accuracy in natural language data queries by combining semantic layers with AI, compared to just 16% accuracy with direct text-to-SQL approaches.

We discuss the challenges of building and maintaining semantic layers, the importance of proper naming and documentation, and how AI can help automate their creation.

Finally, we explore the future of semantic layers in the context of AI agents and enterprise data systems, and learn about Cube's upcoming AI-powered features for 2025.

00:00 Introduction to AI and Semantic Layers
05:09 The Evolution of Semantic Layers Before and After AI
09:48 Challenges in Implementing Semantic Layers
14:11 The Role of Semantic Layers in Data Access
18:59 The Future of Semantic Layers with AI
23:25 Comparing Text to SQL and Semantic Layer Approaches
27:40 Limitations and Constraints of Semantic Layers
30:08 Understanding LLMs and Semantic Errors
35:03 The Importance of Naming in Semantic Layers
37:07 Debugging Semantic Issues in LLMs
38:07 The Future of LLMs as Agents
41:53 Discovering Services for LLM Agents
50:34 What's Next for Cube and AI Integration

In this episode, we chat with Yaron Hadad, a fascinating individual who transitioned from theoretical physics to entrepreneurship.

We explore his groundbreaking work on black holes and gravitational waves, and learn about the Ramanujan Machine - an algorithmic system he helped develop that discovers new mathematical formulas and democratizes mathematical research. We'll hear about the scientific community's mixed reactions to this innovative approach.

The conversation then shifts to his work with Neutrino, a company he founded that uses AI and continuous monitoring devices to understand how food affects individual health. We delve into the complexities of nutrition science, the challenges of processing multiple data streams, and the future of personalized health monitoring.

Throughout the episode, Yaron shares insights on bridging theoretical research with practical applications, and the role of AI in advancing both pure mathematics and healthcare.

00:00 Yaron Hadad's Journey: From Physics to AI in Healthcare
04:50 The Complexity of Einstein's Equations and Their Solutions
10:12 AI in Mathematics: The Ramanujan Machine and Conjectures
15:41 Navigating Criticism: The Scientific Community's Response to Innovation
29:24 The Impact of Algorithms in Mathematics
35:30 The Planck Machine: A New Approach
41:15 Neutrino: A Personal Journey in Nutrition
50:11 Connecting Food Complexity to Health Metrics

In this episode, we chat with Philippe Noël, founder of ParadeDB, about building an Elasticsearch alternative natively on PostgreSQL.

We explore the challenges and benefits of extending PostgreSQL versus building a separate system, diving into topics like full-text search, faceted analytics, and why organizations need these capabilities.

We discuss the emerging bring-your-own-cloud deployment model, the state of the PostgreSQL extension ecosystem, and what makes a truly production-ready database extension.

Philippe shares insights on the future of search technology and how recent AI developments are actually increasing the demand for traditional search capabilities.

The conversation also covers the misconceptions around PostgreSQL's scalability and the trade-offs between multi-tenant and single-tenant architectures in modern data infrastructure.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to ParadeDB and Its Mission
06:35 User-Facing Search and Analytics
11:45 The Role of Postgres in Modern Data Solutions
17:30 Future of Multimodal Databases
31:04 The Rise of Fintech and Data Integrity
36:36 Deployment Models: BYOC and Control Plane
43:41 The Evolution of Cloud Infrastructure and Serverless Databases
49:38 The Future of Search and Community Engagement

Click here to view the episode transcript.