SAS unveils AI Governance Map to boost trust & compliance
SAS has launched the AI Governance Map to provide organisations with a structured resource for assessing and developing their AI governance strategies across oversight, compliance, operations and culture domains.
The AI Governance Map enables organisations to evaluate their existing AI governance maturity, offering a framework that is tailored to address current gaps and chart a clear course for future improvements. This new offering complements SAS' portfolio of AI and data governance solutions, which support organisations at various stages of their AI implementation journeys, from data governance through to model monitoring and compliance management.
Reggie Townsend, Vice President, SAS Data Ethics Practice, commented, "We take a pragmatic approach to AI governance, recognising that different organisations are at varying points in their AI governance efforts. Instead of ripping and replacing something that's working well, we can fill in the gaps to provide a more comprehensive AI governance system that strengthens trust in AI-driven decisions, simplifies operations and future-proofs AI strategies."
The new resource comes at a time when transparency and trust in AI processes are paramount, particularly as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in business operations and regulatory environments continue to evolve. Industry analysts have taken note of SAS' progress in this domain. Chartis, an industry analyst group, named SAS a category leader in its RiskTech Quadrant for Model Risk Management Solutions, 2024 report, making it the eleventh consecutive year that SAS has received this recognition. SAS earned top marks for its model governance solutions in Chartis' evaluation, which praised their capabilities across both traditional and modern aspects of model management.
According to Chartis, SAS demonstrates "a forward-thinking approach to managing models across traditional and emerging domains," which encompasses both domain-specific governance and the latest requirements in AI and generative AI governance. Chartis stated that SAS has "advanced capabilities in ModelOps, SecurityOps, DevOps, orchestration and big data management."
The analyst report further noted, "SAS' market potential is further amplified by its ability to offer end-to-end solutions. These solutions cover the life cycle, from initial development to ongoing validation, and align with existing infrastructures."
SAS plans continued expansion of its AI governance offerings, with a specific focus on highly regulated sectors such as banking, where compliance requirements already prompt the need for robust governance. Building on its SAS Model Risk Management foundation, the company is preparing AI governance solutions tailored to banking and has additional industry-specific solutions in development.
The company also revealed plans for a forthcoming platform designed to aggregate, orchestrate and monitor AI systems, models and agents. This comprehensive tool aims to address the needs of a wide range of users, from executives seeking policy alignment to data scientists focused on operational efficiency and risk mitigation.
Steven Tiell, SAS Global Head of AI Governance Advisory, said, "AI governance is not just an exercise in risk management; it's a strategic enabler of faster innovation and helps to ensure that AI is trustworthy. At its core, AI governance should be viewed not just as a protective measure, but as a driver of growth. To forge ahead, organisations need to identify where the real opportunities lie - and understand how they stack up against their peers."
The SAS AI Governance Map is available through an online assessment, which generates a customised report and tailored action plan based on a participating organisation's responses. The assessment benchmarks the organisation against industry peers in the four key governance domains: oversight, compliance, operations and culture. The generated report contains high-level guidance and outlines recommended actions specific to the organisation's level of maturity.
SAS states that strong AI governance can enable organisations to embed risk management and compliance into their innovation cycles, helping to proactively mitigate issues such as bias, fairness and changing regulatory standards. The company brings its experience in data technology and regulatory navigation to inform the guidance offered by the AI Governance Map.
The AI Governance Map forms part of the SAS AI Governance Advisory, a service that begins with an initial consultation to help organisations define what AI governance means in their context. The advisory service offers recommendations on strategy and practical deployment, tailors the governance approach to business requirements and provides access to a peer network and subject matter experts.
