Graham Gillen
Pureinsights has proudly participated in KMWorld events for over 18 years, serving as exhibitors and presenters in various capacities. This year, however, we embraced a different perspective. Without sponsorship or a presentation slot, we attended KMWorld 2024 with exhibit hall passes. This shift allowed us to step back and observe the rapidly evolving Knowledge Management (KM) landscape, particularly as AI reshapes the field.
KMWorld 2024 Insights: Has AI Disrupted Knowledge Management?
At KMWorld 2023, I posed a provocative question at our Platinum Sponsor booth: “Will AI kill the need for taxonomies and ontologies?” The explosive adoption of tools like ChatGPT (launched in November 2022) disrupted traditional KM approaches, leaving professionals and vendors grappling with its implications. Only a handful were actively integrating AI into their solutions.
Fast forward to KMWorld 2024, and AI was the dominant theme. Most vendors prominently highlighted AI in their offerings, underscoring a dramatic shift in the KM ecosystem. Information Today even promoted the event as both “KMWorld 2024” and “Enterprise AI 2024,” signaling the ongoing transformation of the KM industry.
Standout Vendors at KMWorld 2024 Exhibit Hall
Here are highlights from conversations with vendors that captured the spirit of KMWorld 2024:
Notable Newcomers:
One striking commonality among these newcomers is their focus on Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and the integration of either vector search alone or a hybrid of vector search and traditional keyword (or “lexical”) search. This approach contrasts sharply with the “old guard,” whose origins lie in traditional keyword search and text analytics and who are only now pivoting to incorporate AI-driven technologies.
- Glean: A fast-growing company with ex-Google roots, offering 120 connectors, CoPilot features, and robust ARR growth. A recent $65M funding round highlights its momentum.
- Swirl: Known for federated search with AI-driven re-ranking and a secure, on-prem LLM. Their traction in pharma underscores their practical value.
- Yurts.AI: Specializes in RAG for secure environments, including defense and financial services.
- Vespa.AI: Founded by the creator of FAST search, this platform powers innovations like Perplexity.AI.
The Old Guard in Enterprise Search:
- Sinequa: Recently acquired by ChapsVision, though no groundbreaking updates were shared.
- Coveo: Doubled down on its focus in e-commerce and partnership with SAP. Otherwise, no significant announcements since the pivot to include AI in its platform in 2023.
Notable Absences:
- Elasticsearch, Lucidworks, Microsoft, and Deloitte—formerly significant players in this space—were missing from the exhibit floor.
Other Vendors of Note:
- Several KM and document management companies showcased RAG/AI solutions.
- Niche vertical offerings, like AutoGenAI (automating proposals and grants) and Semedy (healthcare-focused solutions), added depth to the exhibitor mix.
KMWorld 2024 Insights: Interesting Conversations and Observations
- The Taxonomy Debate: Squirro and Synaptica offered compelling insights on AI’s role in taxonomy and ontology creation. Rather than “killing” taxonomies, AI is seen as a tool to refine or generate them—serving as an “assistant” to augment human-designed structures. Much like writers use AI for editing, the original human-authored intent remains critical.
- A Familiar Face?: A Glean sales engineer bore an uncanny resemblance to NHL star Alex Ovechkin. Humorously, he was unaware of the likeness.
- The Buyer Conundrum: While KM professionals and search specialists attended in force, the lack of direct buyer engagement was a common concern. KM and enterprise search remain ROI-challenged without top executive sponsorship. With AI initiatives increasingly driven by C-level mandates, this dynamic is further complicated.
- Attendance: The event drew a modest 400 attendees, reflecting its status as a focused, niche gathering for practitioners rather than a large-scale industry expo.
- Buzz and Booth Displays: The overall scale of booths and displays was modest compared to previous years. Our backlit booth from last year, which garnered rave reviews, would have been a standout in this year’s exhibit hall.
What the Future May Hold
The KMWorld ecosystem is clearly in flux. Here’s where we see the co-located conferences and KMWorld itself heading:
- Enterprise Search and Discovery: May continue to evolve as a distinct sub-brand.
- Taxonomy Boot Camp: Will likely retain its focus, albeit integrating more AI applications.
- Text Analytics Forum: Traditional tools may give way entirely to AI-driven approaches.
- Enterprise AI World: Positioned to become the flagship event, but it risks getting lost in a crowded AI conference space.
For vendors, navigating this evolving landscape is challenging. Large-scale shows like AWS re:Invent and Microsoft Ignite offer broader audiences but require substantial investments that smaller vendors struggle to justify. KMWorld’s intimate scale provides a unique opportunity for meaningful engagement, though its ability to attract buyers remains a critical question.
Closing Thoughts
KMWorld 2024 was a microcosm of the knowledge management industry’s ongoing transformation. It’s a space that’s simultaneously scary and exciting. As AI reshapes the fundamentals of search and KM, we look forward to seeing how vendors and practitioners adapt.
If you attended KMWorld 2024 or have thoughts on its evolution, we’d love to hear from you. Drop us a line at info@pureinsights.com.
Cheers,
Graham