Denodo launches Platform 9.0 with advanced AI features

Denodo has announced the release of its Denodo Platform 9.0, which integrates artificial intelligence capabilities to introduce a new level of intelligence to data delivery. The platform aims to improve data management and analytics through features such as AI-driven natural language query support, real-time data for large language models (LLMs), and enhanced data security measures.

Denodo Platform 9.0 leverages AI to learn from user interactions with data, providing automated recommendations on the best data to use based on individual needs. Among its notable capabilities is the ability to support retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), which ensures that generative AI applications can deliver trusted and insightful results by accessing real-time, governed data from across the enterprise.

Ryan Fattini, Vice President of Data & Analytics at City Furniture, remarked, "We see Denodo 9.0 as a game-changer. The self-service data preparation and Generative AI integration will now empower users of all backgrounds to customise and use datasets effortlessly. The Iceberg and Delta integration enhances analytics, and the advanced security governance and inspection tools improve oversight and compliance."

The platform allows users to type queries in natural language and receive instant results along with a detailed breakdown of query construction. This functionality enables business users to interact with data without needing to know SQL, making the data accessible to a wider range of users. Additionally, the system optimises data delivery across multiple channels, selecting the fastest methods and lowering costs by saving time. Security is also strengthened with more sophisticated measures built into the platform by design.

Commenting on the platform's potential, Fern Halper, Vice President and Senior Research Director for advanced analytics at TDWI, stated, "At TDWI, we believe that companies, in the ongoing effort to unify their diverse data, will leverage both physical and logical data architectures. Denodo Platform 9.0 promises strong support for a data fabric that can accommodate both approaches, with enhanced AI capabilities to improve the data fabric's flexibility in supporting a wider variety of different user personas."

Key functionalities of Denodo Platform 9.0 include:

• Natural-Language Query Support: Business users can query data using natural language through seamless integration with platforms like ChatGPT and AWS Bedrock, eliminating the need to manually write queries.
• New Data-Preparation Wizards: Users of all technical backgrounds can customise datasets to meet their needs, quickly modifying data products without needing support from data teams.
• Intelligent Query Recommendations: The platform's AI-driven query wizards respond to user activity, streamlining the query process with automatically tailored transformations and dataset filters.
• Support for AI-Ready Data: The platform enables enterprises to incorporate real-time, enterprise-specific data into their generative AI projects with ease.
• Improved Developer Experience: Enhanced DevOps support, integrated Scheduler jobs, a new Welcome portal for faster onboarding, and a redesigned data-source panel facilitate easier access and manipulation.
• Enhanced MPP-Based Data-Lake Engine: The massively parallel processing-based engine offers simplified configuration, easier integration with Delta and Iceberg tables, and enhanced analytics capabilities.
• Advanced Federated Governance: Finer-grained controls allow for better management of decentralised data product creation and reuse by different teams.
• Enhanced Inspection: Improved tools for inspecting and auditing data-access policies help ensure compliance with data-centric regulations.

Alberto Pan, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Denodo, expressed enthusiasm about the release: "To say that we are excited about Denodo Platform 9.0 is a vast understatement. This release, developed over several years, brings an unprecedented level of intelligence to data management, which will open up a wealth of new opportunities for both business and technical users."

Pan added that the new AI and data-preparation features, including support for RAG, would bring advanced, trusted data analytics to a wider group of users. He also highlighted the platform's improved MPP and DevOps capabilities, which aim to accelerate data access and provide a faster and more seamless analytics experience across a broader range of use cases.