Responsible Innovation
As the market leader with the most trusted data and AI platform, SAS is committed to working with customers, partners and academia to increase the awareness of, and need for, AI that is ethical, equitable and sustainable.
Our Core Principles
Access to quality data, at the optimal time, interpreted with compassion, is essential to ethical and human‐centered innovation.
Technology does not exist in a vacuum. It affects us all in unexpected ways. Ethical dilemmas can present tensions that we should strive to navigate in the most productive and least harmful ways. Managing such challenges in a trustworthy manner requires an unwavering set of principles rooted in proven, effective strategies and a focus on AI ethics.
Human Centricity
Promote human well-being, human agency and equity.
Inclusivity
Ensure accessibility and include diverse perspectives and experiences.
Accountability
Proactively identify and mitigate adverse impacts.
Transparency
Openly communicate intended use, risks and how decisions are made.
Robustness
Operate reliably and safely, while managing potential risks throughout a life cycle.
Privacy & Security
Protect the use and application of an individual's data.
Talking Trust
We’re not alone in being responsible innovators. The proof is in the partnership – and this conversation between Microsoft Data & AI Specialist Kirk Hofer and SAS Sr. Data Scientist Allie DeLonay.
Our Approach
Responsible innovation requires us to ask not only "could we" but also "should we?"
From ideation through development and deployment, our principles are reflected in our people, processes and products. With a collaborative governance approach called the QUAD, we focus on oversight, operations, compliance and culture to anticipate, mitigate and avoid unintentional harm, particularly for the most vulnerable.
Oversight
Ensures that internal and external AI-enabled technologies and processes adhere to data ethics principles. Advises leadership on sales, consulting, product development and procurement opportunities involving AI.
Operations
Absorbs and interprets expectations and demand, then develops AI technologies that align with market viability, SAS portfolio synergy, regulatory compliance and data ethics principles.
Compliance
Monitors, audits and seeks compliance with data ethics principles. Provides organizational checks and balances to identify mitigation needs before AI-related technologies and services are made public.
Culture
Cultivates an ecosystem of creators, contributors and consumers of AI for knowledge sharing, collaboration and the normalization of behaviors and practices aligned with data ethics principles.
Our vision is a world where data empowers people to thrive. We pursue that vision through trustworthy and responsible innovation." Reggie Townsend Vice President of Data Ethics Practice SAS
SAS Data Ethics Practice
Our Data Ethics Practice is a guiding hand for our responsible innovation efforts, ensuring our platform, processes and services keep the focus on people with an "ethical by design" approach throughout product development and market strategy. Reggie Townsend leads the Data Ethics Practice. Townsend is also a member of the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee that advises the US president and the National AI Initiative Office on a range of issues related to the development and use of AI.
Circle of Trust
Meet the global team behind the SAS “Trustworthy AI Swarm” and see why it takes a 360-degree view of AI development to ensure outcomes that avoid the risk of unintentional harms.
