Prerequisite: None
Organizations are trying to move past early experimentation with generative and agentic AI and into a more pragmatic phase focused on scale, trust, and measurable value—but many are discovering that success depends as much on their data strategy as on the models themselves. In this keynote presentation, TDWI research vice president Fern Halper will share mid-year insights from TDWI research on the key data and AI priorities in 2026.
Halper will examine how organizations are balancing investments in AI with the need to modernize data foundations, why semantics and metadata are becoming critical enablers for both human and machine understanding, and how governance is evolving to address risk, accountability, and the rise of agentic systems. Attendees will gain a clear view of where organizations are making progress, where they continue to struggle, and what practical steps data and analytics leaders should prioritize next to drive successful, scalable AI.
Halper will then lead a panel of experts in an engaging discussion on key trends driving data and AI programs in 2026.