Making AI Work for Data Analytics

Session Abstract: There is a ton of hype around everything AI these days. In the data analytics realm there is a common perception that AI is poised to eliminate the need for the hard work of building data pipelines and preparing data for reports and analyses. Instead, people assume we can just “give AI all the data” and it will somehow make sense of it for us.

The goal of this session is to cut through the hype and explore the practical applications of generative AI tools for data analytics. We’ll focus on:
Understanding AI’s capabilities with a clear-eyed assessment of its strengths and limitations
The crucial role that data organization, validation, and governance play in enabling AI data tools
Effectively communicating with stakeholders about the hard work and careful preparation required to successfully employ AI for data analytics

Keywords: Institutional Effectiveness, AI, Data Analytics