Databricks at a crossroads: Can its AI technique prevail with out Naveen Rao?

“Databricks is in a difficult spot with Naveen Rao stepping again. He was not only a figurehead, however deeply concerned in shaping their AI imaginative and prescient, significantly after MosaicML,” mentioned Robert Kramer, principal analyst at Moor Insights & Technique.

“Rao’s absence might sluggish the tempo of recent innovation barely, no less than till management stabilizes. Inner groups can hold initiatives on monitor, however vision-driven leaps, like figuring out the ‘subsequent MosaicML’, could also be tougher with out somebody like Rao on the helm,” Kramer added.

Rao turned part of Databricks in 2023 after the info lakehouse supplier acquired MosaicML, a company Rao co-founded, for $1.3 billion. Throughout his tenure, Rao was instrumental in main analysis for a lot of Databricks merchandise, together with Dolly, DBRX, and Agent Bricks.