From Data to Decisions: How Looker, BigQuery, and AI Are Changing the Analytics Era

Making sense of data should not feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Yet for many businesses, turning massive volumes of raw data into clear, actionable insights remains a struggle. This is where the powerful combination of BigQuery, Google Cloud’s fully managed enterprise data warehouse, and Looker, a modern business intelligence and analytics platform, comes into play. Together, they offer a comprehensive solution for modern data analytics, merging BigQuery’s massive scalability and speed with Looker’s intuitive analytics and visualization capabilities.

BigQuery is designed to store and query vast amounts of data, supporting features such as nested records, partitioning, clustering, and an in-memory execution engine. It also includes built-in machine learning (BQML). Looker, with its in-database architecture, does not ingest source data; instead, it leverages the power of your database’s query engine, providing access to the freshest data. When you ask a question in Looker, it is converted into highly performant SQL and delivered to your database. The query speed and experience are directly related to the connected database technology.

But the game-changer? Artificial intelligence. Whether you are using built-in models with BigQuery ML, applying custom models, or embedding AI-generated insights right into your dashboards, Google Cloud is making it easier than ever to bring machine learning into the heart of your business strategy. In this blog, we will explore how Looker and BigQuery work together and how AI is unlocking a new era of intelligent, scalable analytics for organizations of all sizes.

The Power of the Semantic Model (LookML)

What truly distinguishes the Looker and BigQuery duo is Looker’s semantic model, LookML. LookML is a lightweight modeling language that data experts use to describe their data to Looker. It instructs Looker on how to query data, allowing everyone in the organization to create easy-to-read reports and dashboards. This code-based representation of your data structure fosters collaboration and ensures consistency, acting as a single source of truth where every field and metric is defined and calculated consistently, regardless of how the data is queried. The semantic layer simplifies complex business logic and BigQuery’s complex data structures into a language that everyone can understand and comprehend. Curious about how LookML works? Explore our detailed breakdown in this earlier blog here.

💡 To learn more about BigQuery and Looker, check out the following video:

AI and Gemini: Supercharging Analytics within Looker

The integration of AI and Machine Learning is a significant advantage when combining Looker and BigQuery. Looker’s platform integrates seamlessly with AI capabilities, including Vertex AI, allowing you to apply powerful machine learning models to your BigQuery data without complex data pipelines.

1. Looker and BigQuery ML (BQML)

The integration of machine learning into Looker is no longer just for data scientists—it is now designed for everyday business users. With tools like the Machine Learning Accelerator, Looker makes it easier than ever to integrate predictive analytics into familiar BI workflows. This means analysts and decision-makers can explore trends, forecast outcomes, and take proactive action— all without leaving the Looker interface. Whether it was predicting customer satisfaction, identifying high-risk segments, or improving supply chain decisions, Google Cloud is putting the power of AI into the hands of business users. And because everything runs on BigQuery under the hood, the scalability and performance are already built in.

💡 To learn more about Machine Learning Accelerator, check out the following video:

2. Gemini

Google’s cutting-edge AI is integrated into Looker to revolutionize data interaction and accelerate insights. Several Gemini-powered features enhance the Looker experience:

• Visualization Assistant: Powered by Gemini, this assistant accelerates your speed to insight by making chart customization incredibly easy. You simply describe what you want in natural language, and the assistant generates the code instantly, allowing anyone to quickly create unique and insightful visualizations.

💡 To learn more about Visualization Assistant, check out the following video:

• LookML Assistant: Also powered by Gemini and Looker, this AI feature helps you generate LookML code by describing your needs in natural language. You can enrich your data model by transforming data with SQL or creating new fields and calculations.


• Explore Assistant: Your AI-powered guide to faster, easier data exploration, living within the Looker Explorer. This intelligent assistant leverages Looker’s flexible extension framework and Vertex AI’s powerful machine learning capabilities. It utilizes Looker’s semantic model to provide an intuitive approach to understanding and analyzing complex data.


• Conversational Analytics: Powered by Gemini AI, this feature revolutionizes how you interact with your data. Simply ask a BI agent questions in natural language and receive instant answers, visualizations, and suggestions for further analysis.

💡 To learn more about LookML Assistant, Explore Assistant, and Conversational Analytics, check out the following video:

Embedded Analytics: Monetizing Your Data

Data is a valuable asset that can be leveraged to create innovative digital products and experiences. Looker’s embedded analytics platform allows you to go beyond internal dashboards and create immersive data experiences on top of your BigQuery data. You can embed interactive dashboards and visualizations into any application, website, or portal, creating immersive, AI-powered experiences for your users. This enables you to monetize your data, deliver valuable insights directly to your customers, accelerate time-to-market, and unlock untapped revenue potential. With embedded analytics, users can explore live data, uncover patterns, and leverage AI to generate summaries, predict trends, and automate analyses, all within their existing workflow.

💡 To learn more about Embedded Analytics, check out the following video:

Turning Intelligence Into Impact

BigQuery and Looker are not just tools—they are a strategy. By combining a powerful data warehouse with an intuitive BI platform and layering in AI, Google Cloud has created an ecosystem that empowers your teams to move faster, think smarter, and act decisively. Whether you are building dashboards, training ML models, or delivering real-time insights to your customers, this stack provides the agility and intelligence you need to stay ahead.

Ready to unlock the full potential of Looker, BigQuery, and AI for your business? Contact us today to schedule a personalized demo, gain hands-on experience with real use cases, and discover how we can help you accelerate your data journey with Google Cloud.