Event: 46th TDWI Roundtable Hamburg

Date: Wednesday, November 25, 2026 - Time: to be announced
Location: Hamburg, Germany – venue to be announced

Talk: KI als Katalysator in der Informationsmodellierung
Speaker: Dirk Lerner

About the talk: Without solid data models, AI systems are more error-prone, less efficient, and harder to scale. The open question is how far AI can help build those models in the first place.

The talk shows a practical approach: conversations from requirements analysis are recorded and transcribed. From these, AI identifies the core business objects and pre-fills predefined templates with first definitions. That does not give you a finished data model at the push of a button, though. Every company defines what a "customer" or a "product" is in its own way, and no generic model captures that. Validating the definitions stays with the business experts.

This also changes the role of the data modeler. Instead of taking notes during the conversation, the modeler can focus on asking better questions, listening, and digging deeper. The role shifts from implementer toward facilitator and business translator.

Your takeaways from the talk:

1. AI does not replace the data modeler – it makes them faster and more effective.
2. Company-specific definitions remain the domain of humans – this is where automated model generation reaches its limits.
3. The hybrid approach is winning out – AI-assisted identification plus human validation makes for the optimal workflow.

About the speaker: Dirk is an experienced independent consultant and managing director of TEDAMOH – the Data Modeling Hub. He is recognized worldwide as an expert in BI and data architectures as well as data modeling and is particularly valued for his work on temporal data – including groundbreaking examples on his blog and in his training courses that highlight the many aspects of time management in data and their solutions.

With a 25-year career focused on data modeling, temporal data, and automation, Dirk has consistently applied these disciplines to create flexible, lean, and extensible architectures.

As a pioneer of Data Vault and FCO-IM in Germany, Dirk has authored various publications and is a highly regarded international speaker at conferences. Together with Roelant Vos, he is co-author of the internationally published book "Data Engine Thinking". He also hosts the podcast [antifragile data].

About the conference: The local and free TDWI Roundtables in 15 cities are the ideal place for professional and personal exchange with colleagues. In a relaxed atmosphere, you can bring in your own problems and solutions.