SAS enhances Viya platform with focus on AI

SAS, the provider of AI and analytics solutions, has introduced significant enhancements to its flagship SAS Viya platform. These updates bring new, streamlined capabilities aimed at accelerating AI model development, supporting multiple programming languages, and delivering scalable cloud computing resources. 

“The intensity of today’s environment demands organisations to be outcome-driven, and AI is critical to scaling human productivity,” said Bryan Harris, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at SAS. “We are constantly evolving the SAS Viya ecosystem with products to meet the emerging needs of data scientists and developers — for increased productivity and faster innovation.” 

At the core of these enhancements is the SAS Viya Workbench, a lightweight development environment that enables users to quickly and securely execute code in a cloud-native setting. The Workbench facilitates a multi-language approach, allowing developers to build high-performing, production-ready models using their language of choice, whether it be Python, R, or SAS. 

The foundation of this ecosystem is SAS Viya, a comprehensive platform encompassing AI, analytics, and data management. SAS Viya offers a wide range of coding options, making it accessible to users of all skill levels, from developers and data scientists to IT professionals and business analysts. This inclusivity promotes seamless collaboration throughout the AI and analytics life cycle. 

The company also introduced the SAS App Factory, designed for rapid application development with a focus on AI-driven solutions. This offering simplifies the setup and integration of a cloud-native tech stack, allowing developers to concentrate on bringing AI-driven applications and models into production. The SAS App Factory is slated for general availability in 2024. 

One notable application of the SAS App Factory is the SAS Energy Forecasting Cloud, tailored for utility companies seeking to optimise their energy portfolios. By harnessing AI and analytics, this product assists utility planners in predicting peak power demand and refining cost management, crucial as renewable energy sources like wind and solar become increasingly integrated. 

In a major commitment to advancing analytics solutions, SAS announced a $1 billion investment over the next three years, on May 10. This investment will be channeled into developing tailored solutions for various industries, including banking, government, insurance, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, energy, and telecom/media.