SAS Viya Unveils New Innovations to Enhance AI Efficiency and Trust

Unveiling the Future: SAS Viya's Latest Innovations

On May 7, 2025, SAS, a renowned leader in data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI), introduced exciting innovations during SAS Innovate. These advancements on the SAS® Viya® platform promise to significantly enhance speed, productivity, and trust within AI-driven processes across various sectors.

Kathy Lange, Research Director for AI Software at IDC, commented on SAS's evolving strategy: "SAS is broadening its approach and portfolio to encompass a wider range of user personas and technologies. Their ongoing efforts streamline and automate the AI lifecycle, empowering enterprises to make faster and better decisions."

New Offerings from SAS Viya

Here’s a closer look at some of the latest tools announced:

1. SAS Data Maker - This synthetic data generator, introduced in private preview last year, tackles privacy issues and data scarcity challenges. It simplifies processes while conserving resources. Its launch, backed by SAS's acquisition of key software assets from synthetic data pioneer Hazy, is anticipated in Q3 of 2025.

2. SAS Viya Intelligent Decisioning - Now available, this tool streamlines the creation and deployment of intelligent AI agents. It ensures an optimal balance between AI autonomy and human oversight, tailored to task complexity and organizational goals.

3. SAS Managed Cloud Services Viya Essentials - This managed cloud service package, tailored for small to medium enterprises, lowers entry barriers by providing a ready-to-use SAS Viya environment.

4. SAS Viya Copilot - Integrated with Microsoft Azure AI Foundry, this conversational assistant aids developers and business users with tasks ranging from analytics to programming. Currently in private preview, general availability is set for Q3 2025.

5. SAS Viya Workbench - Launched in 2024, this cloud-based programming environment has been enhanced to support R programming, making it even more versatile for developers and data modelers.

Real-World Impact

SAS Viya transcends the hype surrounding AI, delivering tangible capabilities that promise significant business results. According to a 2024 study by Futurum Group, users of SAS Viya reported that the platform expedited their AI lifecycle by 4.6 times over certain competitors, allowing for quicker data collection, model development, and decision deployment. This acceleration created not only growth in revenue but also a surge in innovation.

Bryan Harris, CTO at SAS, reflected on the current economic climate: "Our commitment is to provide cutting-edge AI capabilities that help businesses navigate the intricacies of emerging technologies, enabling breakthroughs in problem-solving and decision-making."

Conservation Efforts

Beyond enhancing business outcomes, SAS Viya also contributes to global conservation. Fathom Science, a tech startup focusing on ocean data, employed SAS Viya to address a pressing issue concerning North Atlantic right whales, a critically endangered species. Utilizing SAS Data Maker, Fathom generated synthetic data to validate a model that predicts whale locations, thus helping prevent ship strikes.

This suite of innovations was revealed at SAS Innovate, an event designed for decision-makers and technical users alike. For more information about SAS's AI and data products, visit sas.com/viya.

Conclusion

With these innovative tools, SAS Viya is empowering organizations to make informed decisions swiftly, thereby enhancing productivity and driving meaningful outcomes in a wide array of industries. SAS stands as a pillar in transforming data into reliable actions, asserting its role in shaping the future of AI and human productivity. Whether you aim to develop AI solutions or integrate existing ones, SAS offers the necessary infrastructure to thrive in today's fast-paced data-driven world.