Data science is a multidisciplinary field that combines statistics, machine learning, and data analysis to extract insights from data and has wide applications across industries such as healthcare, finance, and e-commerce. It encompasses steps like data collection, cleaning, analysis, model building, and deployment, while emerging trends include AI-driven analytics and automation of machine learning. The future of data science is promising, with advancements like quantum computing, ethical AI development, and enhanced data governance shaping its trajectory.