Databricks Genie: Helping Users with Data Insights

I Dream of Databricks Genie

Author: Tom Campbell

15 October, 2024

When I set out to write about Databricks Genie, I thought I had struck gold with the title “I Dream of Databricks Genie”, a fun play on the old TV show I Dream of Jeannie. But our young, “certified in everything Databricks” engineer just gave me a blank stare, having no idea what I was referring to.  Are they still playing reruns of the show? Can’t we find it on Netflix? Despite the generational gap, I still think the title works. So, let’s run with it. 

Databricks Genie is indeed a dream come true for data enthusiasts and business users alike. It is a no-code, self-service analytics tool that allows anyone in an organization to interact with enterprise data using natural language queries. Simply put, you don’t need to know SQL or any complex technical language to get insights from your data, you just need to ask Genie, and it will deliver. This capability democratizes data access, making it available to a broader audience within an organization, regardless of technical skills. 

Genie, also known as AI/BI Genie, leverages generative AI to provide fast, accurate responses by tightly integrating with Databricks SQL. Governance and security are maintained through Unity Catalog, ensuring that all data access is compliant and secure. This means users can confidently interact with their data, knowing that all compliance policies are upheld. The combination of AI, data governance, and intuitive user interaction makes Genie an incredibly powerful tool for organizations that want to harness their data effectively. 

The Genie room acts as a dedicated space where users can interact with data in a conversational manner. You can set up various sample questions to help guide users and enable them to get the most out of the data available. This flexibility is key for organizations that want to empower their teams to be more data-driven without the need for extensive training or complex onboarding. 

Getting Started with Databricks Genie 

Creating a Genie room is straightforward. For example, I quickly set up a Genie room using the old Microsoft Northwind Suppliers demo database, and then I defined a few sample questions that I would like answered. 

When I asked, “Give me last year’s revenue by supplier,” Genie interpreted the question, generated the appropriate SQL query, and displayed the results in a table sorted by revenue.  

You even have the option to visualize the data automatically using the Auto Visualize button. In this case, Genie chose a bar chart as the best representation of the data. This means that not only can you see the raw data, but you can also visualize it in a way that makes it easier to understand and communicate. 

What I showed above was just a quick and easy Genie room. But Genie doesn’t just stop at simple questions. You can build out instructions and sample SQL for Genie to learn from, allowing it to provide even more relevant answers over time. The AI continuously adapts to the specific data and business context of each organization, making it smarter with each user interaction. That’s why I call it a dream tool — it learns, adapts, and evolves, just like a helpful team member. This continuous learning capability ensures that Genie becomes more effective the more it is used, eventually anticipating user needs and delivering insights proactively. See why I say it is a dream tool? 

Databricks Genie Advantages 

One of the biggest advantages of Databricks Genie is its ability to empower business users. Traditionally, accessing and analyzing enterprise data has been the domain of data analysts and technical experts. Business users often had to wait for analysts to prepare reports, which could slow down the decision-making process. With Genie, this bottleneck is removed. Business users can simply ask their questions using natural language and receive instant answers. This self-service model not only saves time but also empowers teams to be more agile and responsive. 

For example, a sales manager could ask, “What were the top-performing products last quarter?” or “Which regions saw the highest growth in sales?” Without needing to rely on a data analyst, they can get these answers immediately, helping them make decisions in real time. This level of accessibility fundamentally changes how organizations operate, making data a part of everyday conversations and decisions rather than something that is siloed or only accessible to a select few. 

Genie is also capable of providing advanced insights. By allowing users to define instructions and sample SQL, Genie can learn more sophisticated queries and deliver richer insights. For instance, if a marketing team wants to analyze customer churn, they can build out instructions for Genie to look at various factors like customer engagement, purchase history, and support interactions. Over time, Genie can become adept at providing detailed insights into what drives customer retention or attrition. 

One of the most impressive features of Databricks Genie is its ability to learn continuously. Every time a user interacts with Genie, it learns something new about the data, the business context, and the specific needs of that user. This means that over time, Genie becomes more accurate and more relevant in the insights it provides. It can also remember the context of previous questions, allowing for conversational interaction. For example, after asking about last year’s revenue by supplier, you could follow up with, “What about this year so far?” and Genie will understand the context of the conversation. 

This continuous learning is what sets Genie apart from traditional BI tools. Most BI tools are static, they provide dashboards and reports based on predefined queries. Genie, on the other hand, is dynamic. It learns and adapts, which means that the insights it provides are always improving. This makes it a valuable tool for organizations that need to stay agile and adapt quickly to changing business conditions. 

Xorbix Databricks Quick Start 

At Xorbix, we have certified Databricks engineers with expertise in data engineering, machine learning, and GenAI. We can help you get started with Databricks and Genie, often within just a day. Whether you want to start small by simply accessing your data through Genie or go all in with advanced machine learning models, we can tailor our solutions to meet your needs. 

Databricks Genie is a powerful tool that brings the dream of easy, accessible data analytics to life. By allowing users to interact with their data using natural language, Genie makes data-driven decision-making a reality for everyone in the organization, not just the data experts. Its ability to learn, adapt, and evolve makes it an invaluable asset for organizations that want to stay agile and competitive. 

At Xorbix, we are excited to help you unlock the potential of Databricks and Databricks Genie. Whether you’re looking to get started quickly with a basic setup or explore the full capabilities of machine learning and AI, we have the expertise to guide you.  

Thanks, Databricks, for letting Genie out of the bottle. 

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