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SAS Adds Some Cool New AI Tools to its Viya Platform
Hey everyone, John here! Today we’re talking about some exciting updates from SAS and their Viya platform. They’ve added a bunch of new AI-powered features to help businesses use AI more effectively. Think of it like giving your car a turbo boost and adding some self-driving features at the same time!
Making Data Easier and Safer to Use
SAS has been working hard to make it easier for companies to use data, even when they don’t have a lot of it or when the data is sensitive. One of the tools they’ve updated is called SAS Data Maker.
Lila: John, what does “synthetic data” mean? It sounds kind of sci-fi!
John: Great question, Lila! Synthetic data is basically fake data that’s created to look and act like real data. Think of it like using a stand-in for an actor in a movie. It lets you practice and experiment without using the real thing and potentially revealing private information.
They’ve improved Data Maker by adding technology from a company called Hazy, which SAS recently acquired. Data Maker helps companies create this “synthetic data” to solve problems related to data privacy and scarcity. It’s like creating a practice dataset that looks and behaves like the real one, but without revealing any actual customer information.
This new version can even handle more complex types of data, like data spread across multiple tables or data that changes over time (time series data). It will soon be available for everyone to try!
AI Agents That Help You Make Better Decisions
Another cool tool is SAS Viya Intelligent Decisioning. This helps you build AI agents that can make decisions for you, but with the right amount of human oversight. It uses something called a “low-code/no-code” tool, which makes it easier for people to build these agents even if they’re not expert programmers.
Lila: “Low-code/no-code?” What does that even mean, John?
John: Good question, Lila! “Low-code/no-code” means that you don’t need to write a lot of complicated computer code to create something. It’s like building with LEGOs instead of having to forge the metal yourself. The tools provide pre-built components that you can drag and drop to create applications or, in this case, AI agents.
Imagine an AI agent that helps with mortgage applications. It can automatically approve some applications, flag others for review, and even explain its reasoning to a human reviewer. This ensures that decisions are made fairly and accurately.
Your Own AI Assistant: SAS Viya Copilot
SAS is also working on an AI assistant called SAS Viya Copilot. Think of it as having a personal AI helper built right into the Viya platform. It’s like Clippy from Microsoft Office, but way smarter and more helpful!
Lila: Whoa, John, that sounds really cool! But what’s a “platform?”
John: Okay, Lila, think of a platform like a digital toolbox. It’s a collection of different tools and programs that all work together in one place. SAS Viya is a platform for data analysis and AI, and the Copilot is a new tool that’s being added to that toolbox.
Copilot can help developers, data scientists, and business users with all sorts of tasks, from analyzing data to building AI models. It can even write code for you! It’s currently in a testing phase, but it should be available to everyone soon.
More Options for Developers
For developers who like to write code, SAS Viya Workbench now supports the R programming language and also supports SAS Enterprise Guide. It’s also available on the Microsoft Azure Marketplace and AWS Marketplace, making it easier to access and use.
Lila: John, what’s a “marketplace” in this case?
John: Good clarifying question, Lila. A marketplace is like an online store, but instead of selling physical products, it offers software and tools. The Microsoft Azure Marketplace and AWS Marketplace are like app stores for businesses that use those cloud computing services.
Pre-Built AI Models for Specific Industries
SAS is also offering pre-built AI models for specific industries, like healthcare, manufacturing, and the public sector. These models are designed to solve common problems in those industries, such as detecting fraud, optimizing supply chains, and assessing health risks.
Lila: Why is that helpful, John?
John: Great question! Imagine you’re a baker. Instead of having to invent a cake recipe from scratch every time, you can use a pre-made recipe. These pre-built AI models are like those recipes – they give businesses a head start in using AI to solve their problems.
These models are designed to be easy to deploy and use. They’re like apps that you can plug into your existing systems and start using right away.
Keeping AI Under Control: Governance is Key
As AI becomes more common, it’s important to make sure it’s used responsibly and ethically. That’s why SAS is also focusing on AI governance. This means having rules and procedures in place to ensure that AI systems are accurate, fair, and transparent.
SAS has introduced new resources to help organizations assess their AI governance maturity. They’re also working on a new product that will help executives monitor and manage their AI systems.
What Does This Mean for You?
These updates from SAS are all about making AI more accessible, easier to use, and more responsible. Whether you’re a developer, a data scientist, or a business user, these new tools can help you get more value from AI.
My Thoughts
From my perspective, this move by SAS is crucial. It’s not just about having powerful AI; it’s about having AI that’s trustworthy and aligned with our values. It is exciting to see these advancements.
Lila’s perspective: Wow, this sounds like AI is becoming a lot more user-friendly! I’m still learning, but it seems like these tools could really help businesses make smarter decisions.
This article is based on the following original source, summarized from the author’s perspective:
SAS supercharges Viya platform with AI agents, copilots, and
synthetic data tools
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