SAS Introduces Customized AI Agents for Enhanced Decision-Making and Trust

SAS, a pioneering leader in data analytics and artificial intelligence, has unveiled a revolutionary framework of AI agents designed to enhance human-AI interaction while providing transparency and ethical governance in decision-making. The announcement took place during SAS Innovate, an event aimed at showcasing cutting-edge advancements in data and AI for business leaders.

As we enter an era where AI systems can autonomously render decisions with minimal human input, SAS is committed to responsible innovation. Their new offering, SAS® Intelligent Decisioning, is built on the robust SAS® Viya® platform, enabling organizations to create, deploy, and scale tailored AI agents. These AI agents employ a balanced approach to autonomy, allowing businesses to utilize AI’s capabilities effectively while ensuring oversight and ethical considerations are firmly in place.

The Core Framework of SAS's Agentic AI

SAS Viya's framework emphasizes three fundamental pillars that guide the design and deployment of AI agents:

1. Decision-Making: By leveraging a hybrid strategy that combines deterministic analytics with the adaptability of large language models (LLMs), organizations can develop AI agents capable of producing reliable outcomes. This approach is especially crucial for industries bound by strict regulatory requirements, ensuring that AI systems operate within defined business guardrails.

2. Human-AI Balance: Recognizing that tasks vary significantly in complexity and risk, SAS provides tools for organizations to establish the right level of autonomy for their AI agents. In routine, data-driven tasks, these agents can function independently, while humans can provide essential oversight, ethical judgment, and strategic insights where needed.

3. Governance: Integrity is at the forefront of SAS’s framework, with built-in governance mechanisms that ensure AI agents not only generate accurate results but also uphold ethical standards, protect user data privacy, and comply with legal regulations. This comprehensive governance model addresses the growing demand for trustworthy AI.

The Future with Agentic AI

As businesses increasingly transition towards open and interoperable AI ecosystems, the ability to maintain trust and deliver explainable outcomes grows increasingly vital. Tiffany McCormick, Research Director at IDC, emphasizes that SAS is leading the charge in fulfilling this demand, committing to ethical rigor in its AI offerings.

SAS Viya supports organizations at every stage of their agentic AI journey—from initial data ingestion and analysis to the actual deployment and monitoring of AI agents. By embedding auditability and bias detection throughout the lifecycle of each agent, SAS ensures that its customers can confidently harness the power of AI while adhering to compliance standards.

Future enhancements to the agentic AI framework include integrating productivity assistants that enable faster, more efficient workflows without compromising on the critical logic necessary for an enterprise. SAS is also set to deliver pre-packaged, domain-specific agents that can immediately plug into existing processes, thereby accelerating enterprises' paths to achieving their goals without sacrificing control over operations.

Conclusion: Embracing the Power of AI

In summary, SAS has revolutionized the landscape of AI decision-making through its innovative framework that champions ethical governance and transparency. This forward-thinking approach not only introduces sophisticated AI agents to the enterprise but also transforms the AI landscape from experimentation into a valuable business differentiator. With SAS Viya, organizations can feel empowered to navigate the future of AI with confidence and integrity.

For more information on SAS's AI agents and what they can do for your organization, visit SAS.com.