Looker

Looker is a comprehensive business intelligence (BI) platform developed by Google Cloud that enables organizations to analyze governed data, deliver business insights, and build AI-powered applications. It provides a user-friendly interface for creating interactive dashboards, reports, and data visualizations, while leveraging advanced AI capabilities for enhanced data analysis and insights.

Key features:

- Interactive Dashboards: Create fully interactive dashboards that can be seamlessly integrated into applications, transforming data into deeply integrated, value-driving experiences.
- Robust API Coverage: Perform almost any action from the UI via API, unlocking limitless possibilities for creating data experiences beyond traditional dashboards.
- Gen AI Integration: Utilize a natural language interface for easier interaction with the application and deriving insights.
- Vertex AI Integration: Enable powerful custom AI workflows and advanced analytics within the Looker instance through direct integration with Vertex AI.
- Semantic Layer: Ensure trusted metrics and consistent data definitions across the organization with a flexible semantic layer.
- In-Database Architecture: Optimize performance and scalability by processing data directly within the database.
- API-First Platform: Easily create and customize data applications with an API-first design.
- Looker Studio: Create engaging reports and data visualizations to tell impactful and insightful stories with data.

How it works:

1. Users access Looker through its web application.
2. They create and customize dashboards, reports, and data applications.
3. The platform's API allows for extensive customization and integration with other applications.
4. Users can embed Looker's interactive dashboards into their own applications.
5. Natural language queries can be used to ask questions and get insights conversationally.
6. Custom AI models can be built and deployed directly within Looker using Vertex AI integration.

Integrations:

Google Cloud Services (Vertex AI, BigQuery, Google Sheets), and various third-party applications through its robust API.

Use of AI:

Looker incorporates generative AI to provide a natural language interface, facilitating easier user interaction with the platform and insight derivation. The integration with Vertex AI enables users to build and deploy custom AI models within Looker, enhancing data analysis capabilities.

AI foundation model:

The generative AI integration in Looker is built on Google's AI foundation models, ensuring advanced capabilities and reliable performance.

Target users:

- Data Analysts
- Business Intelligence Professionals
- Organizations leveraging data for strategic decision-making

How to access:

Looker is available as a web application and offers API access for extensive customization and integration. Users can interact with the platform through its web interface or programmatically via the API.