Semantic layers: The next data revolution or just overrated hype?

In 2021, semantic layers took the data world by storm—it felt like they came out of nowhere, then everyone was talking about them. Since then, companies have been built (and some have failed) on the promise of the semantic layer, blog posts have debated their rise and fall, and data teams are still left wondering: was it all just hype, or are semantic layers truly the next big thing in data? In this talk, I'll explore the evolution of the semantic layer and answer the burning question: Is it here to stay, or is it just a passing trend?