The document discusses challenges in analytics for big data. It notes that big data refers to data that exceeds the capabilities of conventional algorithms and techniques to derive useful value. Some key challenges discussed include handling the large volume, high velocity, and variety of data types from different sources. Additional challenges include scalability for hierarchical and temporal data, representing uncertainty, and making the results understandable to users. The document advocates for distributed analytics from the edge to the cloud to help address issues of scale.