Julian Wiffen: How AI Is Changing Data Engineering Without the Hype
Julian Wiffen on How AI is Revolutionizing Data Engineering In a world where everyone talks about AI, very few leaders explain it in a way that feels real and usable. Julian Wiffen , a senior leader in AI and data science at Matillion , does exactly that. He doesn’t sell dreams. He talks about what actually works inside real data teams—where deadlines are tight, data is messy, and “perfect” is not an option. This is why Julian’s perspective matters: he shows how AI can help with the most common pain in data work— slow pipelines, messy inputs, repeated tasks, and unclear documentation . From Chemistry to Smart Patterns Julian’s journey into AI didn’t start with fancy tech titles. He studied chemistry , and in the 1990s he picked a research project in computational chemistry. He worked with early ideas like genetic algorithms—methods that try many options and keep improving until they find a good solution. That early experience gave him a habit that still shows today: keep ...