While many companies are interested in adopting a data fabric architecture, organizations don't realize that the essence of a true data fabric leverages embedded AI with a unified semantic layer for accurate enterprise context and data consistency.
A true data fabric will enable workers to access information and insights for streamlined decision-making within their cohesive workflow.
DBTA recently held a webinar Architecting for Efficiency with Unified Semantic Layers and Data Fabric, with John O'Brien, principal advisor and industry analyst, Radiant Advisors, who shared practical examples and use cases showing how next-generation semantic layers empower chatbot AI and boost worker productivity across the enterprise.
According to O’Brien, there are four pillars to implement for true data fabric:
- Active Metadata: Self-describing, machine-readable metadata that powers automation
- Dynamic Integration: Automated pipelines that adapt to change without manual reconfiguration
- Embedded AI and ML: Intelligence built into the fabric for optimization and quality
- Unified Semantic Layer: Consistent business context across all platforms
At the heart of data fabric, users work in natural workflows and not in data tools, O’Brien said.
A unified semantic layer acts as a single place for meaning. This marks a shift from democratizing data for people to enabling LLMs. The semantic layer includes definitions and relationships; similarity; and ontology and taxonomies.
Building a semantic layer is a series of steps and learning, O’Brien said.
Evolving trust through the semantic layer includes:
- Going from Prompt Engineering
- To RAG with Vector DBs
- To GraphRAG with Graphs
“Start thinking like your new user (AI) and speak YAML,” he noted.
O’Brien explained that semantic layers within data fabric means moving beyond data access to data usability. Data abstraction is still essential for interoperability.
Data Fabric is about active metadata, dynamic integration, embedded AI/ML, and the unified semantic layer.
For the full webinar, featuring a more in-depth discussion, Q&A, and more, you can view an archived version of the webinar here.