Explicit Semantics for AI Applications: Ontologies in Practice

Modern AI applications struggle not because of a lack of models, but because meaning is implicit, fragmented, and brittle. In this talk, we’ll explore how making semantics explicit (using ontologies and knowledge graphs) changes how we design, build, and operate AI systems. Drawing on real work from the GoingMeta.live podcast series, we’ll look at how ontologies move from theory to practice: grounding LLMs, improving reliability, enabling reasoning, and creating shared understanding across teams and systems. Expect concrete patterns, lessons learned, and examples you can apply to production AI today.