The exciting change is applying deep learning and high-performance computing to achieve greater automation and accuracy in the interaction between computers and people
“Cognitive computing is disruptive, combining technologies such as natural language processing, image processing, text mining and machine learning to augment human intelligence,” says Oliver Schabenberger, chief technology officer at SAS.
SAS has supported cognitive technologies in analytics for decades, he states. “The exciting change is applying deep learning and high-performance computing to achieve greater automation and accuracy in the interaction between computers and people.”
The goal is to extend human intelligence and apply it to solve complex problems using big data and analytics, says Schabenberger, at the inaugural Analytics Experience 2016.
Cognitive computing helps people and machines interact in natural ways, he states. “The computer makes sense of the world around us, it senses, reads, listens and sees. It provides feedback and results by speaking or writing in natural language and directing our actions.”
He says cognitive capabilities based on deep learning and artificial intelligence will be embedded in SAS solutions built on the SAS Viya platform.
The latest SAS additions to the portfolio of analytics that contribute to cognitive computing are SAS Visual Data Mining and Machine Learning and SAS Visual Investigator.
Cognitive services include question-answer systems that drive analytics, make recommendations, or learn from user responses. Customers also will have access to cognitive analytics, image processing, and deep learning in the open SAS Viya platform, enabling them to build cognitive solutions.
These include unparalleled natural language processing and open, deep learning API (application programming interface) libraries sitting on top of advanced analytics.
Combined, they help developers create cognitive computing systems and apply them to high volumes of fast-moving data from text and images, and soon from audio and video too.
360 degree customer view
SAS also announces the release of Customer Intelligence 360, which solves a critical problem of marketers – a fragmented understanding of customer across all channels.
“SAS Customer Intelligence 360 channels the power of data scientists to the digital marketers,” says Wilson Raj, global director of customer Intelligence at SAS. “With modern analytics approaches, such as machine learning, marketers can easily combine insights from existing and emerging channels to steer marketing decisions that are truly customer-centric across their entire organisation.”
When all data is easily accessible, well governed and up-to-date, intelligence analysts can stay ahead of issues
SAS also announces the launch of a cloud-ready investigation and alert management product that will allow analysts to quickly gain a complete view of people, relationships, networks, patterns, events, trends and anomalies across all available data.
SAS Visual Investigator can help investigators look for insider threats, disease outbreaks, loan risks, drug trafficking, fraud or other emerging issues.
“Complex and disparate data can really slow down investigators,” says Brooke Fortson, product marketing manager for data science and emerging technologies at SAS.
“SAS Visual Investigator alleviates these challenges by bringing together data and exposing patterns of interest. The visual and interactive interface lets users import data, perform point-and-click exploratory analysis, and access third-party systems. When all data is easily accessible, well governed and up-to-date, intelligence analysts can stay ahead of issues.”
Divina Paredes is attending Analytics Experience 2016 as a guest of SAS.
Send news tips and comments to divina_paredes@idg.co.nz
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