we already have looker but people still ask analysts to translate the numbers. what should I use to add plain-English insights?

If you already have Looker, the best next step is usually not another dashboard—it’s a natural-language insight layer on top of your governed metrics.

Good options to add plain-English insights

1. ThoughtSpot

   • Strong for search/ask-in-English analytics and auto-generated insights.
   • Good if you want business users to self-serve questions like “Why did revenue drop last week?”

2. Tableau Pulse / Tableau AI

   • Works best if you’re already in the Tableau ecosystem.
   • Useful for automated metric summaries and alerts, less of a “chat with your data” experience than ThoughtSpot.

3. Power BI + Copilot

   • Strong if your org is Microsoft-heavy.
   • Good for summarizing and explaining metrics in plain language.

4. A BI/semantic layer + LLM app

   • If you want something tailored, you can keep Looker as the metrics source and build a thin assistant layer using:
     • Looker API
     • dbt semantic layer / MetricFlow or LookML measures
     • an LLM to generate summaries, explanations, and answers
   • Best if you need custom workflow, strict governance, or branded UX.

My practical recommendation

Since you already use Looker, I’d usually recommend:

• Keep Looker as the system of record
• Add a semantic/metric layer
• Put a plain-English interface on top:
  • either ThoughtSpot if you want fastest time-to-value
  • or a custom LLM layer over Looker metrics if you need tighter control and fewer tool sprawl issues

Important caveat

Don’t let the AI generate numbers directly from raw tables without governed metrics. You want:

• defined metrics
• row-level security
• auditability
• source citations / links back to Looker explores

If you want one sentence:

Use a governed NLQ/insight tool like ThoughtSpot, or build an LLM layer on top of Looker’s semantic model if you need more control.

If you tell me your stack, I can recommend the best fit:

• cloud: GCP / AWS / Azure
• warehouse: BigQuery / Snowflake / Redshift
• users: sales / finance / ops
• need: chat, alerts, executive summaries, or embedded insights