DataTopics: All Things Data, AI & Tech

Send us Fan Mail Google still drives most search traffic, but the rules of discoverability are changing fast. Today we sit down with Cyril, a client data partner at Dataroots, to unpack what search engine optimization actually is, why the first results page captures the vast majority of clicks, and how small changes in content clarity can shift who finds you and when. We get practical about classi...

Send us Fan Mail Trust collapses fast when a dashboard misleads or an AI agent learns from messy data. We dig into how data quality became business critical—and how to move from reactive fire drills to proactive systems—through real stories from clinical trials and large platforms where a single broken test could escalate to the C‑suite. With Stan and David, we map the shifts driving this moment:...

Send us Fan Mail In our final episode of 2025, we sit down with Tim Van Erum to unpack what really stood out at Tech Expo Amsterdam. Together we revisit the most misunderstood AI statistic of the year, exploring why the “95% of AI projects fail” headline is misleading and how hype versus reality played out across the conference. Tim shares why failure and experimentation are not setbacks but essen...

Send us Fan Mail We go inside Mediahuis to see how a small GenAI team is transforming newsroom workflows without losing editorial judgment. From RAG search to headline suggestions and text‑to‑video assists, this episode shares what works, what doesn’t, and how adoption spreads across brands. You’ll hear about: Ten priority use cases shipped across the group Headline and summary suggestions that bo...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Data Topics, Ben speaks with Kim Smets, VP Data & AI at Telenet, about his journey from early machine learning work to leading enterprise-wide AI transformation at Telenet. Kim shares how he built a central data & AI team, shifted from fragmented reporting to product thinking, and embedded governance that actually works. They discuss the importance of si...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Gaelle Helsmoortel joins us to discuss how to make AI truly deliver business impact,  not just proof of concept. With over 25 years of experience spanning L’Oréal , startup leadership , and her current role at Dataroots , Gaelle shares her approach to turning business challenges into measurable value . She breaks down her proven 5Ps framework (Purpose, People, Pro...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we're joined by Sam Debruyn and Dorian Van den Heede who reflect on their talks at SQL Bits 2025 and dive into the technical content they presented. Sam walks through how dbt integrates with Microsoft Fabric, explaining how it improves lakehouse and warehouse workflows by adding modularity, testing, and documentation to SQL development. He also touches on Fus...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we explore how public media can build scalable, transparent, and mission-driven data infrastructure - with Emilie Nenquin , Head of Data & Intelligence at VRT , and Stijn Dolphen , Team Lead & Analytics Engineer at Dataroots . Emilie shares how she architected VRT’s data transformation from the ground up: evolving from basic analytics to a full-stack data...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when AI hype collides with enterprise reality? Tim Leers, Global Generative & Agentic AI Lead at Dataroots, pulls back the curtain on what's actually working—and what's not—in enterprise AI deployment today. We begin by examining why companies like Klarna publicly announced replacing customer service teams with AI, only to quietly backtrack months later...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the cozy corner of the tech world! Datatopics is your go-to spot for relaxed discussions around tech, news, data, and society. In this episode of Data Topics , we sit down with Nick Schouten — data engineer at dataroots — for a full recap of KubeCon Europe 2025 and a deep dive into the current and future state of Kubernetes. We talk through what’s actually happening in...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the cozy corner of the tech world! Datatopics is your go-to spot for relaxed discussions around tech, news, data, and society. This week, co-host Ben is joined by Jackie Janssen , former Chief Data Officer at CM, author of AI: De Hype V oorbij, and an evangelist for pragmatic, human-centered AI. Together, they trace the winding path from early tech roles to enterprise t...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the cozy corner of the tech world where ones and zeros mingle with casual chit-chat. Datatopics Unplugged is your go-to spot for relaxed discussions around tech, news, data, and society. Dive into conversations that should flow as smoothly as your morning coffee (but don’t), where industry insights meet laid-back banter. Whether you're a data aficionado or just som...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the cozy corner of the tech world where ones and zeros mingle with casual chit-chat. Datatopics Unplugged is your go-to spot for relaxed discussions around tech, news, data, and society. Dive into conversations that should flow as smoothly as your morning coffee (but don't), where industry insights meet laid-back banter. Whether you're a data aficionado or jus...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the cozy corner of the tech world where ones and zeros mingle with casual chit-chat. DataTopics Unplugged is your go-to spot for relaxed discussions around tech, news, data, and society. Dive into conversations that should flow as smoothly as your morning coffee (but don’t), where industry insights meet laid-back banter. Whether you're a data aficionado or just som...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the cozy corner of the tech world where ones and zeros mingle with casual chit-chat. Datatopics Unplugged  is your go-to spot for relaxed discussions around tech, news, data, and society. This week, we dive into the latest in AI-assisted coding, software quality, and the ongoing debate on whether LLMs will replace developers—or just make their lives easier: My LLM Codeg...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the cozy corner of the tech world where ones and zeros mingle with casual chit-chat. DataTopics Unplugged is your go-to spot for relaxed discussions on tech, news, data, and society. This week, we’re unpacking everything from AI-powered vacations (or the lack thereof) to corporate drama, and even a deep dive into the quirks of COBOL. Join Morillo, Bart, and Alex as they...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the cozy corner of the tech world where ones and zeros mingle with casual chit-chat. DataTopics Unplugged is your go-to spot for relaxed discussions around tech, news, data, and society. Dive into conversations that should flow as smoothly as your morning coffee (but don’t), where industry insights meet laid-back banter. Whether you're a data aficionado or just som...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the cozy corner of the tech world where ones and zeros mingle with casual chit-chat. Data Topics Unplugged is your go-to spot for relaxed discussions on tech, news, data, and society. This week, we’re joined by returning guest Tim Leers , who helps us navigate the ever-evolving landscape of AI regulation, open-source controversies, and the battle for the future of large...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the cozy corner of the tech world where ones and zeros mingle with casual chit-chat. DataTopics Unplugged is your go-to spot for relaxed discussions around tech, news, data, and society. This week, we’re joined by Jonas Soenen, a machine learning engineer at Dataroots, to break down the latest AI shakeups—from DeepSeek R1 challenging OpenAI to new AI automation tools th...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the cozy corner of the tech world where ones and zeros mingle with casual chit-chat. Datatopics Unplugged is your go-to spot for relaxed discussions around tech, news, data, and society. Dive into conversations that should flow as smoothly as your morning coffee (but don’t), where industry insights meet laid-back banter. Whether you’re a data aficionado or just someone...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the cozy corner of the tech world where ones and zeros mingle with casual chit-chat. Datatopics Unplugged is your go-to spot for relaxed discussions around tech, news, data, and society. In this episode, we delve into the big topics shaping our digital landscape: Car Expo - Brussels Motor Show : Highlights from Europe’s leading auto show, including Tesla’s Cybertruck de...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the cozy corner of the tech world where ones and zeros mingle with casual chit-chat. Datatopics Unplugged is your go-to spot for relaxed discussions around tech, news, data, and society. Dive into conversations that flow as smoothly as your morning coffee (but don't), where industry insights meet laid-back banter. Whether you're a data aficionado or just someo...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the cozy corner of the tech world where ones and zeros mingle with casual chit-chat. Datatopics Unplugged is your go-to spot for relaxed discussions around tech, news, data, and society. Dive into conversations that flow as smoothly as your morning coffee (but don't), where industry insights meet laid-back banter. Whether you're a data aficionado or just someo...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the cozy corner of the tech world where ones and zeros mingle with casual chit-chat. Datatopics Unplugged is your go-to spot for relaxed discussions around tech, news, data, and society. Dive into conversations that flow as smoothly as your morning coffee (but don’t), where industry insights meet laid-back banter. Whether you're a data aficionado or just someone cu...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the cozy corner of the tech world where ones and zeros mingle with casual chit-chat. Datatopics Unplugged is your go-to spot for relaxed discussions around tech, news, data, and society. This week, we’re bringing you a special episode straight from RootsConf , our annual internal knowledge-sharing extravaganza! Hosts Murilo and Bart sit down with Tim and Ben, data strat...