Building Trust in AI: A New Direction with SAS AI Navigator
Trust plays a crucial role in the success of artificial intelligence (AI) within businesses. Many organizations struggle to move their AI projects beyond the initial testing phase due to trust issues. A recent study by SAS and IDC highlights that companies that successfully foster trust in their AI are 15 times more likely to see significant returns on their AI investments compared to those that do not.
To help address these trust challenges, SAS has introduced AI Navigator, a new governance tool that became available on the Microsoft Marketplace on October 5. This platform is designed to assist users in establishing trust in their AI systems, making it easier for organizations to oversee their various AI tools.
AI Navigator provides a comprehensive overview of a company’s AI capabilities. It allows users to view all their AI assets, track where they are being utilized, identify potential risks in governance, and receive alerts if any issues arise. Additionally, it offers ready-made policy packs from SAS partners, giving users a solid foundation to start managing their AI effectively.
Michael Ni, an analyst at Constellation Research, commented on the significance of AI Navigator for SAS customers. He noted that the platform helps users inventory their AI models, link them to real business needs, and enforce policies across a diverse range of AI solutions. However, he also raised a crucial point: SAS must ensure that this governance connects directly to the decisions made by their AI systems to be truly effective.
While AI Navigator aims to give an overall view of AI capabilities within an organization, it doesn’t provide detailed controls for managing individual AI applications. Therefore, Ni emphasized that SAS still needs to differentiate itself in the crowded AI governance space.
The Importance of Trust in AI
Trust is essential for the adoption and effective use of AI applications. A significant part of building trust is transparency. Users are more likely to accept AI-generated decisions if they understand how those decisions are made. According to SAS and IDC, a staggering 97% of users will disregard AI decisions if they cannot see the reasoning behind them.
David Menninger, an analyst at ISG, noted that governance, security, and privacy concerns remain major hurdles for organizations looking to leverage their AI investments. He stated, “AI governance continues to be one of the biggest challenges in getting AI deployments into production,” and tools like SAS AI Navigator can help address these obstacles.
SAS developed AI Navigator in response to feedback from customers facing difficulties like keeping track of their AI assets, managing unapproved AI usage, ensuring compliance with internal and external policies, and clarifying accountability in complex AI environments. The insights gained from SAS’s own experiences with AI helped shape this tool, according to Reggie Townsend, the company’s vice president of AI ethics, governance, and social impact.
SAS AI Navigator serves as an accessible starting point for executives who wish to understand how AI is implemented in their organizations and whether it is delivering the expected results without excessive risk.
For users of SAS Viya, the company’s main platform for data management and analytics, AI Navigator complements existing governance features. Townsend described it as a simplified system that gives a clearer view of how AI impacts various business applications.
Analysts like Menninger and Ni observed that while AI Navigator is a valuable addition, it may not set SAS apart from other major players in the AI governance market. Many vendors are enhancing their governance capabilities, and the competition is heating up.
Constructed for Clarity and Understanding
AI Navigator is thoughtfully designed to provide a clear picture of a company’s AI landscape. According to analyst Michael Ni, it appears well-suited for its purpose. The governance suite allows organizations to manage specific business use cases, rather than simply monitoring AI models.
The way AI is employed can present various risks, and SAS connects these use cases back to the underlying models and agents, as well as the individuals responsible and the relevant policies.
Menninger added that while AI Navigator is arranged logically for effective oversight of AI applications, both it and competing governance tools still need to tackle the challenges related to AI developed in different vendor systems. As AI continues to evolve, integrating a wide range of capabilities across diverse applications will be crucial for organizations.
As AI technology advances, the ongoing development of comprehensive governance solutions will be a key area for businesses to ensure they can effectively utilize the full potential of AI while maintaining trust and accountability.
