As artificial intelligence continues to gain steam through generative AI and large language models, enterprises seek to embrace this cutting-edge technology.

Databricks Inc. intends to enhance its data expertise with GenAI, given that the database war no longer exists. Data will be everywhere and AI will be needed for better insights, according to Doug Henschen (pictured, right), vice president and principal analyst at Constellation Research Inc.

“Databricks is back in their wheelhouse,” Henschen said. “I think generative AI for the last three years, they’ve been building up the warehouse side of their Lakehouse and making a case. All this time data science has been their wheelhous, and their strength and their customers are here, while others are making announcements of previews that’ll help eventually down the road on AI. This is where it’s really happening, and they’re building generative models today.”

Henschen and Tony Baer (left), principal at dbInsight LLC, spoke with theCUBE guest analyst Rob Strechay at the Databricks Data + AI Summit, during an exclusive broadcast on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio. They discussed how generative AI and LLMs are changing the game for Databricks and the industry.

The rise of small-focus models

The surge of LLMs will give rise to purpose-built models that are very domain specific. As a result, these small-focus models will be tailor-made to meet certain business needs, according to Henschen.

“This idea of building on big models or building small-focus models — do you really want to pay for a really big model where it has knowledge of Taylor Swift and LeBron James?” he asked. “Or do you want to develop something specific to your company that’s focused on your business need?”

Since the ecosystem is what will matter in the long run, Databricks has set the ball rolling by having a uniform Lakehouse platform. This is because it combines the superior elements of data warehouses and data lakes for better AI, analytical and data initiatives, according to Baer.

“When I did my market landscape research on the lakehouses, I was saying, ‘Look, right now they each have various different capabilities, but given the amount of community and involvement in each of these projects, they’re all essentially going to be … a level playing field,’” he pointed out. “I think UniForm was a very mature move on Databricks’ part.”

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of the Databricks Data + AI Summit:

Photo: SiliconANGLE