Question 1

What is the critical path in a dbt run?

Accepted Answer

The critical path is the small chain of dependent models that decides when a dbt run finishes. Every other model in the project has slack: it could start later or run on smaller compute without delaying anything. Most teams provision as though every model were on the critical path, which is where the gap between compute paid for and compute needed comes from. Ben Lerner and Saravana Kumar of Authentic cover how to find and close that gap at dbt Summit 2026.

Question 2

How does Espresso AI reduce a Snowflake bill?

Accepted Answer

Espresso AI sits between your data tools and Snowflake as an in-flight proxy, routing and optimizing queries in real time. It does three things: smarter warehouse auto-scaling, AI-powered query scheduling, and query rewriting with formal verification. There are no SQL changes and no engineering effort beyond changing one URL. Pricing is 40% of savings, so if it saves nothing you pay nothing. Typical reductions run 40% to 70%.

Question 3

Does Espresso AI work with Databricks as well as Snowflake?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Espresso AI optimizes Databricks alongside Snowflake using the same in-flight proxy architecture and the same pricing of 40% of savings. Data is never stored, PII is stripped before Espresso sees anything, and the platform is SOC 2 Type II. Setup is a five-minute script, and a free savings estimate comes back within a few days with no commitment.

Question 4

What is a dbt DAG and why does it affect cost?

Accepted Answer

A dbt project forms a directed acyclic graph, where each model depends on the models upstream of it. The DAG determines execution order, but only a fraction of it constrains total runtime. Because warehouses are typically sized for the whole graph rather than the constraining path, teams pay for peak compute across every model. Understanding which parts of the DAG actually gate the run is the first step to cutting the bill.

Meet Espresso AI at dbt Summit

Most of Your dbt Models Aren't in a Hurry

Ben Lerner

Saravana Kumar

Skip the line

Bill Therapy

See you in Vegas