The phrase "data is the new oil" is often used to refer to the growing importance and value of data in the modern economy. Just as oil has long been a valuable resource for powering vehicles and other machines, data is becoming increasingly important as a source of value and insight for businesses and organizations.
The phrase highlights the fact that data can be collected, processed, and analyzed to extract valuable insights and knowledge, which can be used to drive decision-making and improve outcomes in a wide range of industries and sectors. In this sense, data is becoming a critical resource that can be harnessed and monetized in much the same way as oil has been in the past.