The article argues that as AI automates data queries, pipelines, and models, the real value shifts to “measurement engineers” who decide if we’re measuring the right things and interpret ambiguous results. It breaks down why judgment—construct validity, reliable metrics, and decision theory—is a teachable skill that organizations must build into hiring, training, and structure.

The article discusses the shifting landscape for data scientists and machine learning engineers in the age of large language models (LLMs). It emphasizes the importance of data science fundamentals in evaluating AI systems, addressing common pitfalls in metrics, experimental design, and data quality. The author argues that the core work of data scientists remains vital, even as their roles evolve.