Think Forward.

Data is Not the new Oil, Data is the new Diamonds (maybe) 3497

Tariq Daouda, 1 y.
Over the past decade I have heard this sentence more than I can count: "Data is the new oil". At the the time it sounded right, now I see it as misguided. That simple sentence started when people realized that big tech (mostly Facebook, Google) were collecting huge amounts of data on their users. Although it was before (in hindsight) AI blew up as the massive thing it is now, It had a profound effect on people's mind. The competitive advantages that companies who had data where able to achieve inspired a new industry and a new speciality in computer science: Big Data, and fostered the creation of many new technologies that have become essential to the modern internet. "Data is the new Oil", means two things: 1- Every drop is valuable 2- The more you have, the better. And it seemed true, but it was an artifact of a Big Tech use case. What Big Tech was doing at the time was selling ads with AI. To sell ads to people, you need to model their behaviour and psychology, to achieve that you need behavioural data, and that's what Google and Facebook had: Behavioural data. It is a prefect use case, were the data collected is very clean and tightly fits the application. In other words, the noise to signal ratio is low, and in this case, the more data you can collect the better. This early success however hid a major truth for years. For AI to work great the quality of the dataset highly matters. Unlike oil, when it comes to data, some drops are more valuable than others. In other words, data like a diamond needs to be carved and polished before it can be presented. Depending on the application, we need people able to understand the type of data, the meanings associated to it, the issues associated to collection and most importantly how to clean it, and normalized it. It is in my opinion that data curation is a major factors in what differentiates a great AI from an below average AI. Those who misunderstood this concept ended up significantly increasing their costs with complex Big Data infrastructures to drown themselves in heaps of data that they don't need and hinder the training of their models. When it comes to data hoarding and greed are not the way to go. We should keep in mind that data has no intrinsic value, the universe keeps generating infinite amounts of it. What we need is useful data.
Tariq Daouda

Tariq Daouda

CEO, co-founder & Head Software Architect of Bluwr. Professor at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, I specialize in AI for Biomedical applications.


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The Electron Rebellion of Jan Val Ellam 144

Tupan, 10 h.
Jan Val Ellam, a Brazilian author and spiritual thinker, proposes a unique cosmological vision that integrates scientific imagery with metaphysical philosophy. Central to his view is the notion of "A Rebelião dos Elétrons" (The Rebellion of the Electrons), in which electrons symbolize the primordial agents of a cosmic rupture. Far from being inert subatomic particles, these electrons are imbued with a form of micro-consciousness, representing fragments of the spirit that once participated in the original harmony of the universe. According to Ellam, this rebellion of the electrons mirrors the ancient Gnostic narrative of the fall—a departure from divine unity that resulted in the creation of the material world. Much like the Gnostic myth of Sophia’s descent or the formation of the Demiurge, Ellam’s metaphor describes a universe where the material plane emerges as the consequence of this separation. The electrons, in this framework, are similar to spiritual exiles, each carrying within itself the memory of the lost unity and the desire for reintegration with the Source. Ellam’s cosmology also connects with Kabbalistic principles, particularly the concept of Tzimtzum, or the self-contraction of the divine, which allows for the existence of the cosmos and the experience of exile. In this context, the rebellion of the electrons reflects not only the dispersion of divine light (or spiritual energy) but also the ongoing drama of creation, fragmentation, and the potential for spiritual return. Futhermore, Ellam introduces the idea that these electrons serve as the custodians of universal memory. In his works, including the "Mentalma", he suggests that matter itself—down to its most fundamental components—functions as a repository for the memories of cosmic history. The electrons, as bearers of this memory, encapsulate the entire evolutionary journey from the fall to the present moment. Thus, the very fabric of the material world becomes a kind of living archive, retaining the psychic imprints of the universe’s spiritual trajectory. This strongly resonates with the concept of the Akashic Records found in Hindu, Theosophical, and esoteric traditions. Through this synthesis of science and mysticism, Ellam presents a vision in which spiritual awakening involves not only a metaphysical ascent but also a reconciliation with the memory embedded in matter. By understanding and harmonizing with these “rebellious” electrons, human beings participate in the restoration of cosmic order, recovering the lost unity that lies at the heart of existence.