Data Benefits AI; AI Benefits Data
AI (artificial intelligence) and data are inseparable: without one, the other can’t reach its full potential. As Forbes enterprise tech contributor Joe McKendrick explains in a recent article, the latest AWS blueprint shows that in the era of large language models, what really sets companies apart is not the AI itself, but the quality, structure, and accessibility of their data. Generative AI needs more than just structured data—it thrives on unstructured and multimodal data like video, audio, and code. Yet many organizations struggle to make their data AI-ready, facing barriers in accessibility, accuracy, and completeness. The good news? AI can help fix these gaps. Tools like agentic AI and LLMs automate data profiling, quality checks, and integration, transforming passive storage into intelligent, business-aware ecosystems. This not only unlocks trapped insights but also makes data accessible to a wider audience, empowering smarter decisions across the organization. To succeed, AWS recommends an AI-first data strategy: audit and unify data, modernize architecture, build internal skills, keep humans in the loop, and measure outcomes. McKendrick summarizes when data and AI work together, businesses don’t just get smarter technology—they get a smarter, more agile organization.
