This article outlines the evolving role of data engineering as we approach 2026, focusing on the integration of agentic AI systems. It emphasizes the need for data engineers to create context-rich data products, manage active metadata, and design systems that support AI workflows.

Apache Gravitino is a high-performance, geo-distributed metadata lake that enables unified management and governance of diverse metadata across various sources and regions. It supports multi-engine compatibility, direct integration with changing systems, and offers features for tracking AI assets. The platform is designed to facilitate federated metadata discovery and synchronization in hybrid or multi-cloud environments.