AI copilots are quickly becoming part of how people work with data, analytics and AI. But the real test isn't whether they can generate an answer. It's whether they can help people move faster without sacrificing transparency, oversight or trust.
Organizations are under increasing pressure to turn data into decisions faster while managing growing complexity, governance requirements and talent constraints.
SAS® Viya® Copilot addresses that challenge by bringing conversational AI assistance directly into the analytics workflow.
That approach has now earned industry recognition. SAS Viya Copilot was named the winner of the 2026 SiliconANGLE TechForward Award in the AI Copilots & Assistants category.
The SiliconANGLE TechForward Awards recognize technologies that are helping shape the future of enterprise innovation. The awards highlight solutions driving meaningful advances across the artificial intelligence, data, cloud and emerging technology categories.
What I find most rewarding about this program is the community forming around it, the entrants pushing each other to build better products and the judges who bring genuine expertise and attention to evaluating them. Winners become part of a community that stays active even after the announcement. John Furrier, co-founder and co-CEO of SiliconANGLE Media
Why AI assistance inside the workflow matters
SAS Viya Copilot brings conversational AI directly into the SAS Viya platform to help users accelerate data, analytics and AI workflows using natural language. It assists users with tasks such as code generation, analytical guidance, model development, access to documentation and workflow acceleration, all while operating within the trusted SAS environment.
Rather than requiring users to switch between tools, SAS Viya Copilot brings AI assistance directly into the analytics experience. This approach helps data scientists, developers, analysts and business users become more productive while maintaining transparency, oversight and governance.
Why trust matters
As organizations expand their use of AI, trust, governance and accountability remain essential. SAS Viya Copilot was designed to help users leverage generative AI while maintaining human oversight and operating within enterprise-grade security and governance frameworks.
The solution combines the power of conversational AI with SAS' decades of experience in analytics, decisioning and responsible innovation, helping organizations move faster from questions to insights and from insights to action.
Accelerating innovation across industries
Organizations across industries are looking for ways to expand access to analytics and AI capabilities. SAS Viya Copilot helps lower technical barriers, streamline complex tasks and make advanced analytics more accessible to a wider range of users. Whether building models, exploring data, generating code or seeking guidance within the platform, users can accomplish more with greater speed and confidence.
The TechForward Award reflects that broader shift. Organizations aren't simply looking for AI assistants that can do more. They're looking for AI experiences that help people work faster while providing the visibility and control needed to use those capabilities responsibly.
See SAS Viya Copilot in action
As AI continues to reshape how organizations work, SAS remains focused on delivering innovations that help customers increase productivity, strengthen decision-making and achieve trusted outcomes at scale.
We're honored by this recognition and excited about what's next for SAS Viya Copilot as we continue to enhance how people work with data and AI.
