“We've always focused on making our software better and faster than anyone else’s”

SAS founder and CEO JIM GOODNIGHT discusses India's role in the company's global plans, the distinction between classic and generative Al, and why leadership today requires clarity, caution, and a focus on impact, in this interview with BW Businessworld's Group Editorial Director Noor Fathima Warsia. Excerpts

- SAS founder and CEO JIM GOODNIGHT discusses

SAS has had a presence in India for years now. What is your take on how technological innovation reshapes large-scale processes in a market like India?

We are currently doing quite a bit of work in India. One of the key growth areas is our R&D, and we are continuing to expand the scope and scale of these efforts. India is proving a strong and sophisticated market, particularly in banking use cases. India is a reliable technology partner, and we plan to continue investing in R&D there. It is emerging as a more consistent and dependable partner for tech innovation.

We are seeing a surge in AI-native startups in India and globally. How does SAS, as a legacy company, differentiate itself in this new wave of innovation?

Our history is our strength. We have been developing software for over 50 years, and through this experience, we have learned how to continually improve and evolve. We focus on making our software not just better, but also faster than anyone else’s. That is where our competitive edge lies. When it comes to AI, we don’t just follow trends. We have utilised neural networks and machine learning for over 20 years, particularly in credit card fraud detection areas. Today, with the advent of generative AI, we have incorporated it into our products as well. However, for us, it’s more than just following the hype. It’s about building tools that help people accomplish their tasks, whether through a code generator or a graphical interface that is easier to use.