SAS launches AI Navigator for governance oversight

SAS has unveiled SAS AI Navigator, a software service for AI governance designed to help organisations track AI use cases and align them with regulations and internal policies.

The service will accept models and AI agents from different suppliers and provide a single view of governed assets across their life cycle. SAS plans to make it available in the third quarter through Microsoft Azure Marketplace.

The launch comes as businesses expand their use of large language models and AI agents while facing growing scrutiny over compliance, security and oversight. SAS cited research conducted with IDC showing that adoption of these tools is outpacing investment in trustworthy AI measures.

Industry forecasts suggest operational risk is rising. Gartner predicts that by 2030 more than 40% of enterprises will face security or compliance incidents linked to unauthorised shadow AI.

Governance focus

The platform is aimed at AI, data, compliance and risk leaders who need an inventory of AI systems used across their organisations. SAS positioned the product around governance at the use-case level, where AI systems interact with customers, employees and business processes.

In practice, that means applying governance not only to the underlying model or agent, but also to the business use around it. In one example, a company using chatbots for customer interactions could govern the model behind the service, such as Claude or Microsoft Copilot, while also applying policies to meet regulatory expectations.

The service is designed to work with AI systems built internally or bought from third parties. Customers will not need to change how they build AI, as the platform is intended to sit across existing tools and models, including open source systems and SAS software.

It also covers the progression from experimentation and deployment to retirement. SAS said this would give organisations a common governance layer for a mix of assets that often sit in separate teams and systems.

Broader portfolio

The product expands SAS's broader governance, risk and compliance portfolio, which includes tools for model risk management, interpretability, bias detection and mitigation, and data masking.

SAS also highlighted recognition from Chartis Research, which recently named the company a category leader in its RiskTech Quadrant for AI Governance Solutions. Chartis pointed to the SAS Viya platform's governance features across machine learning, model risk management, explainability, bias detection, privacy protection and monitoring.

Michael Versace, research director for governance, resilience and compliance at Chartis, commented on the company's position in regulated sectors. "By combining these capabilities with its deep expertise in regulated industries, SAS is in a position to demonstrate AI as a growth strategy for clients and prospects," he said.

Market pressure

The announcement reflects a broader shift in the software market as providers move to address the management burden created by rapid AI deployment. Many businesses are experimenting with a mix of public and proprietary models, often through individual teams or departments, raising concerns about poor documentation, inconsistent controls and unapproved use.

SAS defines AI governance as the structure organisations use to manage risk, maintain oversight and support trustworthy AI. Effective governance, it said, combines organisational culture, operational tools and compliance processes, with an emphasis on transparency and oversight.

The company argued that stronger governance can build trust among customers, regulators, boards and employees, while weak governance increases the risk of legal penalties, reputational harm and operational inefficiency. In that view, governance is not simply a control function, but a framework for broader AI adoption inside large organisations.

Reggie Townsend, vice president of SAS AI Ethics, Governance and Social Impact, said the company wants to shift that perception. "AI governance is too often thought of as a compliance measure," Townsend said. "It's a growth driver. Instead of fears of shadow AI putting the organisation at risk, AI governance empowers people to push the limits of AI within a structured, transparent and secure environment."

Townsend added that ease of use will be central to whether governance tools are adopted in practice. "The biggest risk to any AI governance program isn't regulation; it's a tool so complex that no one uses it," he said. "SAS AI Navigator was designed to make the path to responsible AI irresistible."