Earley AI Podcast - Episode 68 - Composable Intelligence: Rethinking Customer Data with Seth Earley and Abhi Yadav

Jun 18, 2025

Join Seth Earley and guest Abhi Yadav, founder of iCustomer AI, as they dive into the future of customer data management. Abhi, a pioneer in the Customer Data Platform realm, discusses the shift from traditional data methods to innovative multigraph frameworks. The duo unpacks the importance of a unified semantic layer over mere data repositories and explores the complexities of zero-party, first-party, and third-party data in marketing. They also address the crucial challenge of integrating AI with decision intelligence for organizations navigating today's landscape.

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INSIGHT

Shift to Knowledge Engineering Era

The shift from MDM and CDP to knowledge engineering is driven by the need for an AI-ready multi-graph knowledge layer.
This unified approach addresses data fragmentation and supports advanced AI use cases effectively.

INSIGHT

Single Source of Truth Redefined

Single source of truth means a unified semantic reconciliation layer, not a single data repository.
Knowledge graphs and ontologies contextualize data from diverse sources for actionable insights.

INSIGHT

Human vs Agent Decision Challenge

The biggest enterprise challenge in decision intelligence is determining who makes decisions: humans or AI agents.
Decision intelligence requires trusted inputs, context, and escalation paths between human and machine decision-makers.

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In this episode of the Earley AI Podcast, host Seth Earley sits down with Abhi Yadav, founder of iCustomer AI—a cutting-edge composable decision intelligence company. With a deep background in enterprise technology, Abhi pioneered the Customer Data Platform (CDP) category and is now leading innovation in advanced multigraph frameworks and customer intelligence. He is also an advisor to leading data management organizations and is passionate about helping brands reshape how they connect with customers by making data truly "AI-ready."

Together, Seth and Abhi explore the evolving landscape at the intersection of AI, data, and enterprise maturity. They dive deep into the challenges and opportunities organizations face as they strive for higher levels of decision intelligence, highlighting both the technical and strategic shifts driving the industry forward.

Key Takeaways:

The evolution from traditional MDM (Master Data Management) and CDP platforms toward a “knowledge engineering era” powered by AI and multi-graph architectures.
Why a single source of truth is more about a unified, reconcilable semantic layer than a single data repository.
The importance of developing robust taxonomies, ontologies, and knowledge graphs to contextualize customer data and orchestrate intelligent decisioning at scale.
Clear definitions and distinctions between zero-party, first-party, second-party, and third-party data—and why they matter for privacy, compliance, and effective marketing.
Challenges enterprise leaders face in scaling decision intelligence, especially in determining the right balance of human and machine-led decisions.
The emerging need for "decision lineage": tracking not only what data was used, but how and why decisions were made, for compliance and transparency.
Advice for founders, technologists, and enterprise leaders: avoid the hype and focus on solving real, specific problems before building platforms or dreaming of category creation.

Insightful Quote from Abhi Yadav:

"Don't follow the hype, follow the real problem. There are still so many real problems—and the more specific that problem is, the more impact you can make. Platforms and categories come later; start with solving measurable problems today."

Tune in for a thoughtful, actionable conversation on unlocking the true potential of enterprise AI and creating data architectures that drive meaningful impact.

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