The term “big data” often conjures images of massive unstructured datasets, real-time streams, and machine learning algorithms. Amid this buzz, some may question whether SQL, the language of traditional relational databases, still holds its ground. Spoiler alert: SQL is not only relevant but is a cornerstone of modern data warehousing, big data platforms, and AI-driven insights.

This article explores how SQL, far from being a relic, remains the backbone of big data and AI ecosystems, thriving in the context of data warehousing and cloud-native technologies like Google BigQuery.