Breaking Analysis with Dave Vellante 2026 Data Predictions: Scaling Agents via Contextual Intelligence
Jan 17, 2026
Join industry experts Sanjeev Mohan, Tony Baer, Dave Menninger, Kevin Petrie, and Andrew Brust as they tackle the future of AI in the data landscape. They're diving deep into the challenges of scaling AI agents, discussing the critical role of context graphs. Predictions include a shift toward integrated autonomous agents and semantic layers, while governance and integration complexities emerge as potential roadblocks. With insights on model wars and enterprise opportunities, this conversation is a must-listen for tech enthusiasts!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Shift From Hype To Hard Outcomes
- The industry has moved from awe to scrutiny as enterprises demand measurable AI outcomes.
- Dave Vellante argues data in context is the linchpin for agentic systems to act across messy enterprise data.
ML/AI Spending Remains Dominant
- MLAI spending still leads across sectors but momentum shows early signs of tapering.
- ETR data reveals steady progress with enterprises citing productivity and decision support as top AI benefits.
Agents Proliferated But Remain Narrow
- Agent proliferation occurred but primarily as single-task specialists rather than integrated autonomous agents.
- Sanjeev Mohan says true embedded, autonomous agents across complex workflows are still not here.