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AI Agents and the Fight for Customer Data

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AI Agents and the Fight for Customer Data

The a16z Show

1 DAYS AGO
The a16z Show

The a16z Show

1 DAYS AGO
OverviewShownoteHighlightsTranscriptChaptersPins

Shownote

Martin Casado speaks with George Fraser, cofounder and CEO of Fivetran, about the future of data infrastructure in the age of AI. The conversation covers Fivetran’s merger with dbt, the changing role of data platforms, and why Fraser believes many compani...

Highlights

In this podcast, Martin Casado and Fivetran CEO George Fraser explore the evolving landscape of data infrastructure as AI agents become more prevalent. They discuss the shifting role of centralized data, the real threat AI poses to traditional software vendors, and why the idea of a 'SaaSpocalypse' may be overblown. The conversation also covers data gravity, the future of APIs, and how AI-native companies are changing the competitive dynamics of enterprise software.
00:00
AI agents are driving a new need for centralized data
05:51
This threat is not new, comparing it to 1990s debates about open APIs.
08:35
Software costs are immaterial compared to headcount.
16:38
Data gravity is overstated.
44:53
Postgres is outdated and should be replaced.

Chapters

The New Role of Centralized Data: From BI to AI Context
00:00
Why Locking Down APIs is a Losing Battle for SaaS Vendors
02:55
Data Gravity is Overrated: How to Own Your Data in an AI World
08:35
The Real Threat: AI-Native Startups, Not a 'SaaSpocalypse'
16:38
Coding Agents, Obsolete Connectors, and the Future of Data Infrastructure
27:32

Transcript

George Fraser: There is a new reason to have all your data in one place, which is AI agents need context. If you don't do that, then it's sort of like using ChatGPT from before ChatGPT was connected to the internet. Postgres, contrary to popular belief, is...