Data teams as context engineers

Most companies still rely on dashboards to understand their data, even though AI now offers new ways to ask questions and explore information. Barry McCardel, CEO of Hex and former engineer at Palantir, joins a16z General Partner Sarah Wang to discuss how agent workflows, conversational interfaces, and context-aware models are reshaping analysis. Barry also explains how Hex aims to make everyone a data person by unifying analysis and AI in one workflow, and he reflects on his post about getting rid of their AI product team and the process behind Hex’s funny launch videos.

Timecodes: 

0:00 – The problem with dashboards
1:20 – The evolution of data teams and AI’s role
2:05 – Democratizing data: challenges and opportunities
3:45 – The rise of agentive workflows
9:48 – Threads and the changing UI of data analysis
13:16 – Building AI agents: lessons from the notebook agent
16:12 – Model capabilities and the future of AI in data
19:10 – The importance of context and trust in data analysis
24:34 – Semantic models and context engineering
29:27 – Data team roles in the age of AI
31:52 – Accuracy, trust, and evaluating AI systems
37:43 – Building Hex: embracing AI as core, not an add-on
48:48 – Pricing, value capture, and the future of SaaS
55:55 – The modern data stack and industry consolidation
1:04:26 – Acquisitions and owning the data insight layer
1:06:46 – Lessons from Palantir: forward-deployed engineering
1:13:11 – Commitment engineering and customer collaboration
1:17:25 – Brand, launch videos, and having fun in SaaS

Resources:

Follow Barry McCardel on X:  https://x.com/barrald
Follow Sarah Wang on X: https://x.com/sarahdingwang

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Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

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