From data silos to RAG Sprawl: why the next AI revolution needs a standard platform

The evolution of data processing and management parallels the current development of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems, which link organizational knowledge with large language models. Historically, businesses transitioned from bespoke database solutions to standardized, scalable platforms like Oracle and Snowflake; a similar shift is now occurring with RAG, as companies initially create custom RAG stacks for AI applications, leading to inefficiencies and "RAG Sprawl." This fragmentation mirrors past challenges in the big data era, emphasizing the need for a unified platform to manage RAG systems effectively. Such a platform would offer centralized control, governance, and scalability, similar to what Snowflake and Databricks provide for data infrastructure. Vectara aims to deliver this standardization, enabling enterprises to deploy AI assistants and agents that are secure and auditable. The transition to Enterprise RAG Platforms promises to transform AI capabilities, much like the shift from hand-built databases to modern data clouds revolutionized data handling.