The Data & AI Chief · 2026-04-22 · 53 min
Learn why an organization’s ontology, a structured framework for how a business defines, connects, and makes sense of its data and knowledge, is the most valuable and most overlooked asset in any AI strategy. Jessica Talisman, CEO and Founder of The Ontology Pipeline, and Tony Seale, Founder of The Knowledge Graph Guys, break down what it actually takes to build trusted AI, covering everything from semantic layers and knowledge graphs to why provenance is non-negotiable. They explain how organizations can start building their knowledge infrastructure for AI, and make the case for why their ontology is their most defensible competitive asset. Key Moments BI Semantic Layers vs. AI Context Layers (02:21) : Explore the evolution from 1990s business vocabularies to modern AI context layers. Learn why ontologies are essential for connecting data points beyond traditional BI. Why Knowledge Graphs are Essential for AI (09:22) : Understand why relational databases fail AI's needs. Tony explains how knowledge graphs turn data relationships into "first-class citizens" using open standards. How to Build Your First Business Ontology (17:04) : Stop over-modeling and start delivering.
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