#USA #AI Governance #SAS #CARY #TM Forum

SAS Joins TM Forum's AI-Native Blueprint Initiative

SAS, a leading name in data and artificial intelligence, has taken a significant step toward driving responsible AI use in the telecommunications sector by announcing its partnership with the TM Forum. The initiative aims to establish robust governance practices for AI technologies, addressing the increasing emphasis on cybersecurity and reliability.

Understanding the AI-Native Blueprint Initiative

At the crux of this collaboration is TM Forum's AI-Native Blueprint Project. This venture is uniquely designed to help communications service providers (CSPs) transition from experimental AI solutions to operational settings, ensuring that AI technologies are effective, reliable, and trustworthy. The project focuses on three primary challenges:
1. Data Products Lifecycle Management - Transitioning from isolated data projects to comprehensive, governed data products accessible to agents without human participation.
2. Security and Governance - Establishing security protocols for agent-based interactions and laying the groundwork for accountable AI management.
3. Model as a Service (MODaaS) - Clarifying how CSPs can manage multi-model setups across various environments—cloud, on-premises, and edge—while maintaining uniform metrics and operational standards.

As part of this effort, SAS will co-chair the AI Security and Governance Workstream within the initiative, leveraging its extensive knowledge in AI governance and risk management to shape the development of these crucial standards.

The Role of SAS in Promoting Responsible AI

SAS's commitment to ethical AI practices is underscored by its recent survey, which revealed that 57% of organizations plan to increase their investments in responsible AI. The findings highlight the importance of strong governance, with organizations lacking robust AI strategies typically underperforming in their respective fields. SAS’s AI Governance Map exemplifies its dedication, providing companies with a clear framework for managing AI-related risks and ensuring transparency in their deployments.

Reggie Townsend, Vice President of SAS Data Ethics Practice, emphasized the importance of AI security, stating, "An inability to trust AI's security foundation can be the downfall of any promising AI projects." This perspective reinforces SAS's approach to working with TM Forum, ensuring that AI integration yields measurable business benefits without sacrificing integrity or trust.

Transformative Outcomes for Telecommunications

SAS has consistently demonstrated its ability to deliver tangible improvements to its telecommunications sector clients. By automating decision-making processes, SAS enables CSPs to enhance operational efficiency and gain a competitive edge. Noteworthy achievements for clients include substantial reductions in network rollout time—up to 40%—and rapid returns on investment, with estimated net benefits reaching up to $5.2 million.

Additionally, improvements in customer service have been significant. Clients utilizing AI-powered agents have reported reductions in complaint handling time by 40%, while managing up to 20% more complaints concurrently.

Looking Forward

The culmination of the AI-Native Blueprint Project is anticipated to take center stage at TM Forum's Digital Transformation World Ignite event scheduled for June 17–19, 2025, in Copenhagen. This flagship conference will showcase how the blueprint can accelerate innovation across the telecommunications landscape, facilitate responsible AI utilization, and engender trust among consumers and providers alike.

For those looking to learn more about this initiative, additional information can be found at TM Forum's digital transformation page.

About SAS

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