001: AI Isn’t Enough: Why Governance Still Matters w/ David Jayatillake, VP of AI at Cube

Feb 4, 2025

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Data teams have the power to drive business growth, but only when they have the right tools, strategies, and data to turn insights into action. In this debut episode of More Than Numbers Live, we discuss how AI and semantic layers can transform data teams with David Jayatillake, VP of AI at Cube.

Tuning in, you'll learn about the four tenets of driving business value through data teams:

Operational clarity
Problem-solving
Decision efficiency
Impact measurement

We also dive into practical applications of AI in data workflows and explore the steps for accelerating access to data insights, automating root cause analysis, and enhancing collaboration between engineers and business teams.

David is a seasoned data leader with extensive expertise in credit, payments, and revenue management. As a two-time founder, investor, and AI enthusiast, David is passionate about finding innovative ways to leverage data for growth and competitive advantage.

Tune in now for insights into the risks of poorly implemented AI tools, actionable strategies for effectively integrating AI into data workflows, why storytelling is a vital skill, and more!

Brilliant data bits [Adoption of AI] is always a GTM [Go-To-Market] problem. It is not usually a product problem ~ David Jayatillake [0:19:12] I believe [that] AI can be very helpful in many different settings and not just for analytical ~ David Jayatillake [0:11:50] What you'll learn

[01:01] Hear about David's early experiences with Business Intelligence (BI) tools.
[02:39] Learn about Cube’s internal data stack and how its semantic layer is structured.
[05:30] Discover the benefits of a semantic layer and how it improves data governance.
[06:39] Find out about Cube's shift to using SQLMesh and its impact on data modeling.
[10:20] Unlock a proven framework to help data teams drive value.
[11:45] Explore how AI is enhancing workflows and improving operational clarity.
[14:23] What impact AI has on problem-solving, speed, and root-cause analysis.
[17:28] Insights into the gaps and limitations of AI and what to expect in the future.
[19:37] Examine how AI will benefit data development and engineering tasks.
[20:35] Unpack the risks and dangers of poorly designed and implemented AI tools.
[23:38] Get tips for managing expectations when leaders push for AI dashboards.
[25:41] Why David thinks sales and storytelling skills are essential for a successful career.

Downloads & links

👋 Connect with David: LinkedIn | X | Substack

🔗 Check out David's company: Cube

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