AI can analyze data, automate tasks and accelerate decisions.

But as organizations adopt AI more broadly, one question continues to surface: What role do humans play?

During the opening session at SAS Innovate 2026, SAS CTO Bryan Harris put that tension plainly when he asked, “Will people matter?” He described a growing “crisis of confidence in human ingenuity” as AI becomes part of more decisions, workflows and everyday experiences.

We took that question beyond the stage and asked attendees:

Do humans matter?

Watch the video below to hear what they had to say.

The conversation doesn’t end here!

To dive deeper, visit the SAS Innovate website to explore the ideas, technologies and stories that defined this year's event.

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About Author

Natalie Gonzalez

Marketing and Communications Intern

Natalie is a SAS Marketing and Communications Intern and a rising sophomore at UNC-Chapel Hill. In her current internship, she is focusing on a variety of written and multi-media approaches to enhance employee, culture and marketing communications.

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