Clearly smart, SAS acquires Hazy: A wider vision for synthetic data

SAS has this month announced the acquisition of Hazy, a synthetic data technology specialist.

Upbeat about why this has come about, SAS says that this fruther drives its data innovation vision to enable more robust AI applications, with future integration opportunities to SAS Viya.

By integrating Hazy’s synthetic data capabilities, SAS says it will give users power to conduct deep research, overcoming challenges related to data availability, access or quality.

This strategic acquisition aims to enhance SAS’ robust data and AI portfolio, equipping its customers with critical and timely synthetic data generation capabilities as their use of AI expands.

“Our acquisition of Hazy’s IP represents a pivotal step in our commitment to innovation in the next generation of data management and AI,” said Jim Goodnight, CEO of SAS. “Hazy is a pioneer in bringing synthetic data to market as a viable enterprise product and analysts rank it among the top software providers in its category.”

CEO Goodnight suggests that by integrating Hazy technology into SAS, the company can offer customers opportunities to harness data safely and effectively.

“This will enable them to experiment and model scenarios that were previously out of reach and gain a competitive advantage,” said Goodnight.

Synthetic data, which mirrors the statistical patterns of real data without exposing private, identifiable or restricted information, mitigates risks associated with real data and enhances the scope of data available for analytics and AI. 

This augmentation leads (according to SAS) to robust, reliable results and innovative solutions for data scientists who can shape and balance data sets more effectively.

“Synthetic data is a game-changer for companies implementing AI solutions, especially in sectors with strict privacy regulations like health care and finance. SAS’ acquisition highlights the growing requirement for synthetic data as an integral component of a modern AI toolkit, addressing data scarcity and privacy issues and improving model accuracy while reducing biases,” said Kathy Lange, research director for AI software at IDC.

Integrating Hazy’s technology expands upon SAS’ initial announcement of SAS Data Maker in early 2024. SAS Data Maker addresses data challenges by generating synthetic data that statistically represents original data sets without compromising privacy.

“Analysts predict that by 2026, 75% of businesses will use generative AI to create synthetic customer data, up from less than 5% in 2023. For SAS customers, this marks a strategic leap, solidifying SAS’ leadership in AI and analytics. With synthetic data, customers can innovate and research more deeply, accessing data that was previously out of reach due to availability, access or quality issues,” said Bryan Harris, chief technology officer of SAS.

With Hazy technology integrated into SAS Data Maker, the ability to simulate multiple future scenarios will give SAS customers a significant competitive advantage through enhanced innovation and research by providing access to rich, synthetic data sets that were previously out of reach, fostering new opportunities and breakthroughs.