Why AI Fails Without Clean Data

Microsoft Innovation Podcast

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🎙FULL SHOW NOTES
https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/699
What if the key to unlocking AI’s full potential isn’t more algorithms—but better data? In this episode, Harley Webster, founder of Amagi and Power BI lead, shares how his journey from geologist to data strategist shaped his obsession with clean, actionable data. From managing petabytes of oilfield data in Qatar to helping modern businesses unify fragmented systems, Harley reveals why data quality is the real foundation of AI success—and how Microsoft Fabric is changing the game. If you're navigating the intersection of business, AI, and data engineering, this conversation is a must-listen.
🔑KEY TAKEAWAYS
Data Quality is Non-Negotiable for AI: Harley emphasizes that without clean, governed, and well-modeled data, AI outputs are unreliable—no matter how advanced the model.
Microsoft Fabric is a Game-Changer: Fabric’s unified platform simplifies data engineering, enabling real-time pipelines, medallion architecture (bronze, silver, gold layers), and seamless integration with Power BI.
Start with Business Outcomes, Not Data Inventory: Harley’s approach is to define the top KPIs first, then trace back to the data sources—ensuring focus and ROI from day one.
Common Language is Critical in M&A: When merging data from different systems or companies, aligning terminology and definitions is essential to avoid misinterpretation and ensure accurate reporting.
ROI from Data Projects is Tangible: From automating manual reporting to protecting market share, Harley outlines how to quantify the business value of data initiatives—even in complex environments.
🧰 RESOURCES MENTIONED
👉 Microsoft Fabric – Unified data platform for engineering, analytics, and visualization: https://fabric.microsoft.com
👉 Power BI – Business intelligence and data visualization tool: https://powerbi.microsoft.com
👉 Dataflow Gen2 – Web-based data transformation tool in Microsoft Fabric
👉 `Natasha’s Foundation – UK charity supporting food allergy awareness: https://www.narf.org.uk
👉 VWS Software – Waste management software provider in the UK: https://www.vwssoftware.com

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Chapters

1. Why AI Fails Without Clean Data (00:00:00)

2. Welcome to The Power Platform Show (00:00:27)

3. Meet Harley: Data Visualization Expert (00:01:03)

4. The Meaning of Amarji (00:03:25)

5. Food, Family and Career Journey (00:04:49)

6. From Geology to Data Management (00:09:33)

7. Modern Data Tools and Fabric Revolution (00:16:23)

8. Data Quality Challenges in Organizations (00:23:03)

9. Balancing Technical and Business Value (00:29:08)

10. ROI and Data Strategy Implementation (00:32:01)

11. Data Inventory and Quality Assessment (00:35:48)