What is natural language BI?
Dec 8, 2025

Summary
This post details the mechanics of natural language BI, explaining how it uses NLP and a text-to-SQL pipeline to translate natural language questions into executable database queries. It highlights the role of the semantic layer in mapping business terms to database schema and ensuring consistency. The post also describes conversational systems that maintain context across sessions, enabling follow-up questions and iterative exploration. Use cases include ad hoc investigations, self-service reporting, meeting preparation, real-time decision-making, and collaborative team exploration. It emphasizes the importance of preparing data, focusing on trusted tables, and implementing data governance for successful adoption.