SAS Viya's New AI Tools Enhance Productivity
SAS Viya Unveils New AI Tools & Services to Boost Productivity
In a world where artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integral to business operations, SAS Viya has emerged as a leader in AI innovation, unveiling a suite of tools and services designed to enhance productivity and decision-making capabilities. At the forefront of these developments are AI agents, digital twins, and industry models, all of which are part of SAS's broader strategy to streamline the AI lifecycle and make AI more accessible and trustworthy across diverse industries.
The recent SAS Innovate 2025 event in Orlando showcased these advancements, highlighting SAS's commitment to evolving its AI ecosystem. Let's delve into the specifics of these innovations and explore how they're set to transform the AI landscape.
Overview of SAS Viya Innovations
AI Agents and Digital Twins
SAS Viya's new AI framework combines traditional rule-based analytics with machine learning, allowing organizations to design AI agents with varying degrees of autonomy. This approach enables businesses to create AI solutions tailored to specific use cases, balancing risk and complexity. For instance, AI agents can be used in manufacturing to optimize production processes or in healthcare to predict patient outcomes more accurately[2][3].
Digital twins, another key innovation, simulate real-world environments, enabling companies to test scenarios and predict outcomes without the need for physical prototypes. This technology is particularly valuable in industries like manufacturing and healthcare, where real-world testing can be costly and risky[5].
Synthetic Data Generation
SAS Data Maker, a synthetic data generation tool, supports data privacy and model training when real data is scarce or sensitive. This tool utilizes technology from Hazy Ltd., which SAS acquired last fall, and is expected to be generally available in the third quarter of 2025. Synthetic data is crucial in regulated industries where access to real data is limited, ensuring that AI models can be trained without compromising privacy[3].
Viya Copilot and Developer Capabilities
Viya Copilot, a conversational AI assistant, speeds up coding, modeling, and analytical tasks. Built with Microsoft's Azure AI Services, it is currently in private preview and expected to be publicly released later this year. This tool simplifies the development process, making AI more accessible to a broader range of users[3][5].
Viya Essentials is a packaged, managed version of Viya designed for small and midsized businesses, lowering the technical threshold for AI adoption and providing these businesses with the tools they need to compete effectively in the AI-driven market[3].
Historical Context and Background
SAS has a long history of innovation in data analytics and AI. The company's journey into AI began with early machine learning tools and has evolved to include a comprehensive AI lifecycle management platform. SAS Viya, launched in recent years, represents a significant leap forward in this journey, integrating AI, machine learning, and data analytics to support business decision-making[1].
Current Developments and Breakthroughs
R Language Support and SAS Enterprise Guide
The latest updates to SAS Viya include support for R coding, enhancing the platform's versatility and appeal to a broader community of data scientists and analysts. Additionally, SAS Enterprise Guide is now available as an optional integrated development environment (IDE) within Viya, providing users with a familiar interface for developing and deploying AI models[1].
AI Governance and Ethics
SAS has also emphasized the importance of responsible AI practices, unveiling new AI governance resources. These include an AI Governance Map and online assessment tools designed to provide clarity and confidence in AI deployments, ensuring that AI systems are transparent, trustworthy, and compliant with evolving ethical and regulatory standards[4].
Future Implications and Potential Outcomes
As SAS continues to push the boundaries of AI innovation, the implications for businesses and industries are profound. By making AI more accessible, trustworthy, and productive, SAS Viya is poised to accelerate decision-making and drive business growth. The integration of AI agents, digital twins, and synthetic data generation tools will enable companies to tackle complex challenges more effectively, from optimizing supply chains to improving healthcare outcomes.
Furthermore, the emphasis on AI governance and ethics ensures that these advancements are aligned with societal values, mitigating risks associated with AI misuse. As AI becomes increasingly integral to business operations, the need for robust governance frameworks will only grow, positioning SAS as a leader in responsible AI development.
Comparison of Key Features
| Feature | Description | Industry Impact |
|---|---|---|
| AI Agents | Customizable AI solutions with varying autonomy levels. | Enhances decision-making and process optimization in sectors like manufacturing and healthcare[2][3]. |
| Digital Twins | Simulates real-world environments for testing and prediction. | Reduces costs and risks in industries like manufacturing and healthcare by enabling virtual prototyping[5]. |
| Synthetic Data | Generates synthetic data for privacy and model training. | Crucial in regulated industries for maintaining data privacy while training AI models[3]. |
| Viya Copilot | Conversational AI assistant for coding and modeling tasks. | Simplifies AI development and increases accessibility for a broader user base[3][5]. |
| Viya Essentials | Managed version of Viya for small and midsized businesses. | Lowers barriers to AI adoption for smaller businesses, enabling them to compete more effectively[3]. |
Conclusion
SAS Viya's latest innovations mark a significant step forward in AI technology, offering businesses a comprehensive suite of tools to enhance productivity and decision-making. By integrating AI agents, digital twins, synthetic data, and conversational AI assistants, SAS is not only advancing AI capabilities but also ensuring that these technologies are deployed responsibly and ethically. As AI continues to evolve, SAS's commitment to innovation and governance will be crucial in shaping the future of AI in business and beyond.
EXCERPT:
SAS Viya introduces AI agents, digital twins, and synthetic data tools to boost productivity and decision-making across industries.
TAGS:
artificial-intelligence, machine-learning, business-ai, ai-governance, synthetic-data
CATEGORY:
business-ai