Abstract: Artificial Intelligence is transforming society, from health care and education to public safety and environmental protection. In this Distinguished Series talk, Udo Sglavo, Vice President of Applied AI and Modeling at SAS, explores how ethical principles and safety frameworks guide responsible AI innovation.

Drawing from SAS’s work with READDI on pandemic preparedness and Medical Adherence Models that promote equitable care, the session highlights how AI can serve humanity when designed with transparency and accountability. A Data for Good initiative using synthetic data and computer vision to protect endangered sea turtles adds a feel-good dimension to the story.

The talk also introduces agentic AI, autonomous systems that act with purpose, and synthetic data as key enablers of privacy-preserving, inclusive modeling. These examples show how SAS is advancing AI responsibly, without compromising safety or ethics. Let’s work together to build AI that earns trust, respects human dignity, and delivers societal value.

Short Bio: Udo leads Applied Artificial Intelligence and Modeling Research and Development at SAS. With a 25 year track record of fostering technology innovation and excellence, Udo heads a team of expert developers and data scientists dedicated to pioneering cutting-edge software and leveraging advanced models to transform the way the world works.

By imagining and building the next generation of AI-driven models and software solutions, Udo helps organizations harness the power of data and analytics to solve their toughest business challenges and outpace the world around them.

Udo's commitment to pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve has earned him recognition as a global thought leader shaping the future of technology. In addition, Udo has written three publications and holds four patents in advanced analytics