SAS Innovate Unveils Game-Changing AI and Quantum Tools

Without a doubt, generative AI (GenAI) and data analytics are revolutionizing the world. Their practical applications across various industry sectors are as broad as the challenges companies actively face and strive to overcome. However, despite the advantages of adopting such technologies as a competitive strategy, many organizations still struggle to fully leverage these tools in an integrated manner.

On May 7 of this year, SAS Innovate 2025 was held in Orlando, Florida. The event showcased the latest innovations in AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics solutions, with a focus on data analysis and orchestration to support decision-making in sectors such as banking, insurance, healthcare, tax collection, security, government, sustainability, manufacturing, and marketing. Below is a list of some of the most relevant findings that were presented during the event.

Quantum AI in Business

One of the most noteworthy findings was the use of generative AI to drive advancements in quantum research. Quantum computing and related technologies like quantum AI are regarded as the next big wave after AI. A global survey of 500 business leaders across industries found that interest in quantum is very high, with more than 60% of respondents indicating they are actively investing or exploring opportunities in quantum AI.

Yet, these business leaders also cited crucial barriers to adoption of quantum AI. Among their top concerns were high cost (38%), lack of understanding or knowledge (35%), and uncertainty around practical, real-world uses (31%). The survey results indicate that while interest in quantum AI is on the rise, organizations need a clear roadmap and guide to better leverage this technology.

That’s where SAS, a leader in data and AI, can help. Through pilot projects with customers, quantum AI research and work with leaders in quantum computing, SAS aims to provide guidance to businesses on applying quantum technologies in their organizations. SAS seeks to make quantum understandable and approachable to a broad audience so they can get to value faster without having to understand the complex quantum market or the physics behind the technology.

Transform Manufacturing

SAS is poised to help transform critical processes in the manufacturing industry with enhanced digital twins that combine SAS’ powerful AI and advanced analytics with Unreal Engine (UE) from Epic Games. With these digital twins, manufacturers like Georgia-Pacific (GP) can experiment with new strategies in simulated digital worlds, then take the best approaches and implement them in the real world.

One of the world’s leading manufacturers of paper and wood-based building products, GP is piloting these enhanced digital twins at its Savannah River Mill, which manufactures napkins, paper towels and toilet tissue. GP is leveraging SAS’ technology to optimize its use of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and other processes.

SAS used RealityScan, a mobile app developed by Epic, to capture photorealistic renderings of GP’s Savannah plant and import them into UE. Combining SAS analytics and UE is helping GP fine-tune operations without disrupting actual production lines. The pilot is expected to deliver cost savings and higher-quality products.

AI Agents With Customizable Human-AI Interaction

True enterprise value from agentic AI comes from building collaborative, intelligence-amplifying systems that work with humans. SAS Viya’s agentic AI framework is underpinned by three pillars that define how AI agents are designed and delivered: 

Decisioning: Applying a hybrid approach that combines the rigor of powerful deterministic analytics with the flexibility and reasoning of large language models (LLMs) enables customers to build AI agents that deliver precise and reliable outcomes, with the necessary business guardrails and rules required in regulated industries.

Human and AI balance: SAS enables organizations to determine the appropriate level of AI autonomy and human involvement for AI agents based on task complexity, risk, and business goals. AI agents can operate fully autonomously in routine, data-driven tasks while humans provide oversight, ethical judgment, and strategic direction.

Governance: SAS’ built-in governance framework enables customers to build AI agents that not only deliver accurate outcomes but also adhere to ethical standards, maintain data privacy, align with business values, and stand up to regulatory scrutiny.

Unparalleled Productivity, Trusted Results

The SAS Viya platform delivers users a choice to be a builder of AI with end-to-end platform tools, or buyers of AI solutions and model packages, each delivering scale and productivity to enable better decisions and faster time to value. SAS Viya accelerates productivity across diverse industries and regulatory landscapes, offering a clear advantage to organizations, particularly CIOs and IT leaders.

A 2024 Futurum Group AI productivity study revealed that SAS Viya helps users accelerate the AI life cycle, enabling them to collect data, build models, and deploy decisions 4.6 times faster than selected competitors, all while helping them increase innovation, expedite decision making and drive revenue growth.

Over time, generative AI and data analytics have become essential tools for companies seeking to stand out significantly from their competitors. However, these solutions must be adopted thoughtfully and strategically in order to maximize their benefits. On their own, these technologies will not deliver remarkable results unless guided by an expert who is well-versed in their full potential.