Over the past decade, the rapid advancement of big data technologies has propelled data consumption to a new frontier, enabling the extraction and realization of data valueThis evolution has marked the dawn of a new era where data utilization is paramountHowever, despite these technological strides, the complexities associated with data analysis, coupled with intricate processing procedures and formalized interaction modes, have maintained high barriers to entry for effective data consumptionThis, in turn, has limited enterprises’ ability to fully leverage data to their advantage.

Presently, we are witnessing a monumental shift in the landscape of data consumption, largely driven by the extraordinary growth of large models and generative artificial intelligence (AI). The seamless integration of these models with data analysis is revolutionizing business intelligence (BI) as we know it

Improvements in intelligence, efficiency, and user experience promise to significantly broaden the reach and accessibility of data consumption across various sectors.

In light of these advancements, the fusion of AI with BI based on large models has become a unified direction among global BI vendorsTencent Cloud, recognized for its leading capabilities and practices in big data technology worldwide, has emerged as one of the first to explore this integrationWith the recent pre-release of ChatBI, which is based on their advanced generative model, Tencent Cloud has unlocked new pathways for enterprises to enrich their data consumption practices.

As we enter the data-intelligent era, it is becoming increasingly clear that enterprises' daily operations, business decision-making, and strategic planning are inextricably linked to data analysis

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BI serves as a critical tool to convert a myriad of enterprise data into valuable insights that support commercial decisionsResearch from Gartner indicates that 62% of Chief Information Officers (CIOs) in China have increased their investments in BI for 2023, further underscoring the growing recognition of BI's value.

While BI is becoming a fundamental instrument for fostering a culture of data-driven decision-making, it is not without its challengesThe evolution through tailored BI solutions to self-service BI has revealed persistent pain points—the high learning curve associated with data analysis, inefficiencies in generating ad-hoc reports, and difficulties in accessing real-time data remain significant hurdlesConsequently, the user experience and efficiency issues impede further adoption and advancement.

The advent of large models and generative AI has ushered in a transformative shift, as these technologies possess a revolutionary potential to enhance data interaction and consumption

Chen Qianqian, General Manager of Tencent Cloud’s Big Data division, aptly stated, “The rapid development of large models gives rise to intelligent BIThe future direction for BI is towards more intelligence and convenience.”

Ultimately, intelligent BI aims to lower the barriers to data use and consumption to a point of accessibility for everyoneThis technology allows individuals to effortlessly engage with data using natural language, simplifying tasks such as metrics querying and causal analysisFurthermore, intelligent BI can drastically increase efficiency, enabling companies to conduct multilevel analyses at any time and place, leading to deeper insights and more precise decision-makingThis efficiency facilitates better management and collaboration within enterprises.

It is evident that both technological advancements and user demands are driving the inevitable trend towards intelligent BI.

At the crux of this evolution is Tencent Cloud's ChatBI, a solution that embodies the intersection of large models and BI

However, achieving such a fusion is far from straightforwardCurrently, the processes involved in training and inferring large models are intricate and costly, particularly within vertical industry applications where the model's understanding of domain-specific nuances is put to the testThus, there is a need for “trailblazers” in the market to take significant steps toward establishing intelligent BI.

Unlike other BI providers, Tencent Cloud has a unique advantage through its own Yuanyuan large model, a general-purpose language model developed in-house that boasts over a trillion parameters and is trained on more than 20 trillion tokensThis extensive training equips the model with profound capabilities in understanding and generating Chinese language content, executing logical reasoning, and reliably performing tasks—all contributing to the ongoing optimization of intelligent BI.

Moreover, the “fusion” aspect extends to the development of intelligent BI products that align with market needs

Tencent Cloud's strategy for these products is twofold: first, focusing on user demands and deriving real business value from real-world scenarios; second, ensuring that products endure rigorous practical testing in complex conditions, avoiding a superficial approach that lacks applicability.

Tencent Cloud has consistently been at the forefront of intelligent BIWith the recent pre-launch of ChatBI, the initial vision for their intelligent BI product has come into sharper focusChatBI boasts four key characteristics:

Firstly, it employs natural language understanding to enable conversational analytics and real-time data visualizationFor instance, the ability to intelligently ask follow-up questions allows ChatBI to clarify user intent even when inquiries are ambiguous, enhancing the accuracy of the analysis produced.

Secondly, ChatBI can deliver analytical results almost instantaneously, accompanied by the ability to generate visual charts of those conclusions.

Thirdly, it offers rich self-configuration and integration capabilities, allowing users to set up knowledge bases, specify data sources, and outline example queries

For instance, integrating a “knowledge base” lets the large model comprehend industry jargon, which increases response accuracy, transforming it into a domain specialist.

Fourthly, ChatBI supports compatibility across multiple platforms—mobile, PC, and beyond—enabling users to perform data analysis anywhere and anytimeNotably, a mini-program version of ChatBI is slated for launch soon.

“Tencent has the most intricate big data application scenariosOur BI solutions have already been deployed and tested within Tencent's internal business environment,” remarked Chen QianqianIt is expected that Tencent Cloud ChatBI will be officially launched on the website by June of this year.

Unquestionably, as data emerges as a core production factor, intelligent BI is destined to become an essential component of everyday business operations

Its effects on operational management, marketing services, and innovative decision-making will be profoundThe release of Tencent Cloud's ChatBI signifies a substantive transition toward practical, impactful intelligent BI.

Moreover, ChatBI is poised for significant enhancements in several key areas.

In fact, with the momentum provided by large models, Tencent Cloud and other vendors are swiftly positioning themselves as significant players in the marketSpecifically, Tencent Cloud's ChatBI is undergoing continuous iterations and upgradesIn the latter half of this year, a series of major developments are anticipated, focusing on enhancing four core capabilities of ChatBI:

Data processing capability: Introduction of features like intelligent table selection, cross-table queries, and support for an expanded range of databases; Intelligent analysis capability: Generation of interpretative reports, smart attribution of data anomalies, and facilitating advanced complex calculations; Expansion of application scenarios: Creating visual icons through dialogue for report integration, SQL generation/fix capabilities, and streamlining report creation; Deployment and openness capability: Private delivery options and the ability to integrate with additional models for incorporation into enterprise systems.

It is foreseeable that with the dawn of the intelligent BI era, natural language interaction, empowered by large model technologies, will emerge as a critical avenue for data consumption

Tencent Cloud’s user-centered approach to intelligent BI product development will drive sustained innovation in this realmFeatures like intelligent table selection and cross-table querying further lower usability barriers while enhancing user engagementIncreased support for private deployment and integration with more models is likely to provide industry users with broader choices.

According to the latest predictions from IDC, the BI software market in China is projected to reach $1.97 billion by 2027, with a remarkable compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.5% over the next five yearsUndoubtedly, the backing of large models heralds the onset of a new growth cycle for the Chinese BI marketIntelligent BI products like Tencent Cloud's ChatBI are poised to penetrate various industries comprehensively, heralding the arrival of an era where “everyone is a data analyst.”