Data Modeling in the AI Age: Limits of Automation and New Ways of Support | TDWI Munich 2026

Conference: TDWI Munich 2026

Date: June 25, 2026 – Time: 9:00–9:45 AM
Track: Innovate & Explorate
Location: MOC Munich, Germany

Talk: Data Modeling in the AI Age: Limits of Automation and New Ways of Support
Speaker: Dirk Lerner

About the Talk: Artificial intelligence is changing the way organizations work with data. Data modeling forms the foundation of successful AI implementations — ensuring that data is high quality, well structured, and suitable for training AI models. Without solid data models, AI systems are more prone to errors, less efficient, and harder to scale.

But how far can AI itself support the creation of these models? The expectation that AI can automatically generate complete data models quickly runs into real-world limits. Definitions of core business objects such as "customer" or "product" are highly company-specific and cannot be captured by generic models. A fully automated, direct creation of information models by AI is therefore not realistic today.

Nevertheless, AI opens up promising opportunities to support the modeling process. The talk presents a practical approach: by recording and transcribing conversations during requirements analysis, data modelers can use AI to identify core business objects more quickly. Combined with predefined templates, definitions can be efficiently pre-filled and subsequently validated by domain experts.

This hybrid approach combines the speed of modern AI with the indispensable domain knowledge of subject matter experts. The talk also examines current trends such as the rise of no-code automation, the shift from Big Data to Small and Wide Data, and the role of Agentic AI — placing these developments in the context of practical information modeling.

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 and data modeling, and is particularly valued for his work on temporal data — including groundbreaking examples on his blog and in his training that illuminate 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 build flexible, lean, and extensible architectures.

As a pioneer for Data Vault and FCO-IM in Germany, Dirk has authored various publications and is a highly regarded international conference speaker.

About the Conference: TDWI Munich 2026 — The Conference for Data, Analytics and AI has been an established knowledge hub and networking platform for the German-speaking data community for over 20 years. As an independent, vendor-neutral conference, it is unique in the breadth and depth of its topics.

At a glance:

• Audience — Data Engineers, Data Architects, Data Scientists, Data Analysts, Business Analysts, Machine Learning Engineers, Project Leads in the data space, and anyone who works with data or makes data-driven decisions
• Format — Three-day conference with over 130 talks, around 150 subject matter experts, practical sessions, interactive hands-on workshops, and standout formats like Dashboard Karaoke or Fishbowls — rounded off by social events and an extensive supporting program
• Topics — Twelve thematic tracks, including GenAI architectures, Data Mesh, Lakehouse platforms, Data Governance, data sovereignty, modern data architectures, cloud and Fabric environments, Data Culture, Industrial Data & AI (new in 2026), and organizational transformation
• Characteristics — Peer-level knowledge exchange in a relaxed atmosphere with around 1,000 participants. Substance over show — domain experts from the field, not celebrities. Curated program by a vendor-independent program committee and TDWI topic circles
• Schedule — June 23–25, 2026 at MOC Munich (Event Center Messe München)

TDWI Munich is Germany's largest gathering for Data, Analytics and AI — a conference that doesn't just deliver knowledge, but the feeling of being part of something bigger. It's the annual industry meeting point for relaxed exchange, networking, and inspiration around today's most pressing data challenges.