Power BI developers handle real-time data by integrating streaming datasets or using DirectQuery mode to connect to live data sources. With streaming datasets, data is continuously updated and reflected in the dashboard in real-time. DirectQuery allows Power BI dashboards to pull data directly from the source without importing it into Power BI, providing real-time results from databases like SQL Server or cloud services like Azure. This approach is particularly useful for monitoring operations, tracking live KPIs, or any scenario requiring immediate access to up-to-date data.