Connect with us

Technology

SAS experts foresee government AI crossroads in 2025

Published

on

Will AI investments fuel a productivity boom or be overwhelmed by poor data, fraudsters and regulatory confusion?

CARY, N.C., Nov. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Government AI adoption is expected to rapidly accelerate in 2025, with 84% of government decision makers saying in a recent global study, Your Journey to a GenAI Future: A Strategic Path to Success for Government, that their organizations are planning to invest in GenAI in the next fiscal year. Will these investments spark a new age of productivity and efficiency? Or will the wave of AI hype crash on the rocks of government red tape, poor data quality and sophisticated crime?

“Countries that let AI fears guide them will see slower economic growth and reduced competitiveness and productivity.”

Government experts from global data and AI and leader SAS shared their thoughts.

Visit SAS 2025 Predictions for more trends and forecasts.

Internal obstacles to effective government AI usage will persist
“2025 will mark a greater gap between the perceived benefits of data and AI, and governments’ ability to benefit from it. There will be more funding for AI initiatives, but agencies will continue to face challenges deriving value from them due to a lack of digitalization, clear processes and data skills.”
– Ensley Tan, Lead for Public Sector Consulting, SAS Asia Pacific

Unstructured data will be a gold mine for AI and productivity
“Fueled by the need for efficiency and ever dwindling resources, in 2025 governments will begin tapping unstructured data sources with AI to not only speed up processes but better inform policy and decision making. The days of throwing bodies at a problem are ending.”
– Ian Kramer, Senior Manager, US Health Care Customer Advisory, SAS

Government AI fears and tolerances will have huge economic impacts
“Our world will see the emergence of an ‘algorithmic divide’ between governments that embrace AI innovation and those that fear it. Countries that innovate will thrive. Those that let AI fears guide them will see slower economic growth and reduced competitiveness and productivity.”
– Shaun Barry, Global Director, Risk, Fraud & Compliance Solutions, SAS

Generative AI alone won’t be enough
“Government organizations concerned with the validity of generative AI approaches alone will explore multi-modal approaches for trustworthy and productive AI. Text analytics will gain prominence as a data quality solution for enhancing data to be fed into generative AI. This will increase productivity by empowering subject matter experts, versus replacing them.”
– Tom Sabo, Principal Solutions Architect, SAS

Data management and governance will emerge as deciding factors for trustworthy AI success or failure
“It will always be the more mundane part of the AI life cycle, but data quality’s importance has never been greater as government agencies strive to avoid squandering AI investments. The use of trustworthy AI models will require trusted data first, so data management and governance will become foundational to the ‘trustworthy and ethical AI’ conversation.”
– Mary Anne Hopper, Senior Manager, Management & Advisory Consulting, SAS

AI safety institutes will bring (some) order to regulatory chaos
“Concerns over patchwork AI regulations from the national to the local level will persist. However, we will see consistency in responsible AI principles emerge across borders, largely driven by AI safety institutes in Group of Seven countries and beyond. These institutes will be key to generating the interoperability needed to support cross-border collaboration and innovation.”
– Reggie Townsend, Vice President, Data Ethics, SAS

AI governance won’t just be a risk mitigator
“AI governance will increasingly be seen not just as a necessary risk management practice but as a strategic enabler of faster innovation and increased productivity. Government agencies with strong AI governance will be able to execute AI projects with confidence, knowing they are minimizing risks related to bias, regulatory compliance and data quality. Consistent governance and standardized practices across agencies will also support integration and collaboration between departments, enabling agencies to leverage shared insights and resources.”
– Steven Tiell, Global Head of AI Governance, SAS

Democracy will remain threatened with truth buried by overwhelming information
“The rise of the new wave of generative AI and quantum computing marks a watershed point in history of the level of exposure that governments and citizens have to information. The task of finding truth whilst protecting our ethical societal values, given this context, becomes vital for the survival of our democracies and the trust in which citizens will increasingly need to have in our public services.”
– Afshin Almassi, Senior Manager, Public Sector, SAS Spain

Successful operationalization of open source AI models will require better data governance and enterprise ModelOps processes
With the steady increase of open source skills in the workforce and a growing inventory of open source AI models, government agencies will continue to face internal demands to use more open source data and models. But to unlock value in the public sector, being open is not enough – the use of open AI models will require enterprise-grade data governance and ModelOps processes to ensure the models operate at scale while also ensuring trustworthy and ethical usage that is aligned with an agency’s mission.
– Jared Linck, Principal Solutions Architect, SAS

The battle will intensify between AI-empowered investigators and fraudsters
“Generative AI is lowering the bar of entry for fraudsters in all aspects of life. From health care and social benefits to procurement, the ease and volume of fraudulent activity will dramatically increase. Governments and industries are going to have to step up their game in the use of the same technologies to handle these increases.”
– Tom Wriggins, Global Lead, Health Care Risk, Fraud & Compliance, SAS

“Tax agencies will adopt robust fraud detection and entity resolution capabilities in 2025 to fight the onslaught of synthetic IDs being created en masse by fraudsters using GenAI to commit tax and financial fraud.”
– Teya Dyan, Principal Industry Consultant, Tax & Revenue Compliance, SAS

AI will become a crucial part of protecting people and property
“Spurred by historic flooding events and other natural and man-made disasters, government will increase investment in sensor and real-time applications for infrastructure, disaster management, energy management and public safety. There is an urgent need to have real-time situational awareness and make informed, intelligent decisions faster than ever before.”
– Katy Salamati, Principal Industry Consultant, IoT & AI, SAS

“Coupling advanced analytics and assistive technologies such as generative AI will have a key role in identifying and mitigating public safety threats and harm to communities, while increasing productivity by reducing effort spent on repetitive, labor-intensive tasks.”
– Steve Shirley, Director, Justice & Public Safety, SAS

Learn more about how SAS analytics and AI are helping government agencies face today’s challenges at https://www.sas.com/en_us/industry/government.html.

About SAS
SAS is a global leader in data and AI. With SAS software and industry-specific solutions, organizations transform data into trusted decisions. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW®.

SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. ® indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright © 2024 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved. 

Editorial Contact:
Trent Smith
trent.smith@sas.com
919-531-4726
sas.com/news

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sas-experts-foresee-government-ai-crossroads-in-2025-302304313.html

SOURCE SAS

Continue Reading

Technology

Wahl® Puts Creativity in Barbers’ Hands with First-Ever Customizable Clipper

Published

on

By

Industry-leading customization experience marks a Wahl® first, giving barbers the freedom to personalize the iconic Cordless Magic Clip® with colors, patterns, text and logos.

STERLING, Ill., Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — For generations, barbers have relied on their tools to bring their creative vision to life. Now, Wahl® is taking personalization to a new level with an industry-leading customization experience that gives barbers a way to make one of their most important tools an expression of their own style.

“Barbers are artists, and we know the tools they use are about more than performance, they’re an extension of who they are and the experience they create for their clients,” said Mike Wahl, VP of Innovation and Insights at Wahl®. “This project was built around insights from the barber community and their desire for greater personalization and self-expression. We want to give them a way to take a tool they already know and trust and make it feel completely their own.”

For the first time in Wahl®’s 107-year history, barbers can customize one of the brand’s most iconic professional tools with the launch of the Wahl® 5 Star Cord/Cordless Magic Clip® – Customized .  The new online customization experience allows individuals to personalize the look of their Magic Clip® with colors, patterns, text, logos and more, creating a clipper that is uniquely their own.

Available through WahlUSA.com, the new interactive configurator gives users a real-time preview of their Magic Clip® as they design it. Barbers can mix and match lid and insert colors, select from patterns including leopard, zebra, camo and checkered designs, add personalized text in a variety of fonts, upload a personal or business logo, or incorporate select Wahl graphics. The result is a professional tool that can be as individual as the person behind the chair.

“For barbers, personal style goes far beyond the cut itself. Everything from the design of your shop to what you wear and the tools at your station says something about who you are as an artist and the experience you want to create for your clients. Being able to customize a tool you use every day gives you another way to bring your personality and creativity behind the chair,” said Wahl Educator and professional barber, Ivan Ross.

The customized clipper starts with the performance of the Wahl® Magic Clip®, a longtime favorite among barbers for creating seamless blends and fades, while opening up new possibilities for professionals to put their personal stamp on the tool. The launch represents another step in Wahl®’s continued commitment to industry-leading innovation, combining the performance professionals expect from the brand with new ways to reflect their individual creativity and craft.

The customization experience also gives barbershop owners and independent professionals the opportunity to incorporate their own branding into their tools by uploading a logo or artwork. And for the holiday season, it offers a new way to create a personal gift for the barber or stylist in your life.

The 5 Star Cord/Cordless Magic Clip® – Customized is available now at WahlUSA.com for $164.99 and will be available throughout the holiday season. Because each clipper is customized to order, customers should allow approximately seven to 10 business days for processing and shipping.

To create your own customized Magic Clip®, visit wahlusa.com.

For more information, visit wahlusa.com and follow @WahlPro on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

Download Images: 5 Star Cord/Cordless Magic Clip® – Customized 

About Wahl®
Since inventing the first practical electric hair clipper in 1919, Wahl has helped shape the grooming industry for professionals and home users around the world. More than a century later, the family-owned company continues to advance the grooming industry through innovative, high-quality tools designed to help people and the animals they care for look and feel their best. Headquartered in Sterling, Illinois, where the company was founded, Wahl is guided by four generations of family values and a belief in the power of better grooming to unlock confidence. From professional barbering and styling to personal grooming, professional animal grooming and pet care, Wahl is committed to setting the standard for excellence in grooming worldwide. For more information, visit WahlUSA.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wahl-puts-creativity-in-barbers-hands-with-first-ever-customizable-clipper-302938115.html

SOURCE Wahl Professional

Continue Reading

Technology

JumpCloudLand 2027: Build Your Playbook for Intelligent, Secure IT

Published

on

By

LOUISVILLE, Colo., Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — JumpCloud Inc. has officially unlocked registration for JumpCloudLand 2027. The flagship annual summit will stream live on February 9, 2027. This free virtual event helps enterprise IT and security leaders grow operations and protect their systems. Attendees will learn how to implement continuous compliance across people, devices, and AI agents.

“The scope of what IT and security teams, as well as the MSP partners who support them, are responsible for has expanded dramatically, and the pace of change isn’t slowing down,” said Rajat Bhargava, co-founder and CEO, JumpCloud. “They’re managing increasingly complex environments across identities, devices, and applications, while defending against modern threats and preparing for an entirely new workforce of AI agents. And they’re expected to do it all securely, efficiently, and often without additional resources. That’s why we’re bringing the IT, security, and partner community together at JumpCloudLand. We want to help technology leaders move beyond managing complexity toward a more intelligent, secure approach to operations, where automation, visibility, and control work together to make their jobs easier and their organizations stronger.”

Event Highlights

Learn from executive keynotes: Learn top strategies straight from JumpCloud and other industry titans to be announced.Access exclusive market intelligence: Get advance access to JumpCloud’s Q1 2027 IT Trends Report.Consolidate, unify, and prove compliance: Learn how to connect your tools, control access, and stay audit-ready with ease.Connect with global peers: Connect with other teams to discuss shared challenges and operational strategies.Recognize excellence: Celebrate organizations that drive strong business results, boost profit margins, and build resilient security. 

Attendees can personalize their agenda across four targeted tracks:

The IT transformation track: Modernize your tech stack. Cut tool sprawl, automate routine onboarding and offboarding, and keep compliance running on autopilot.The executive strategy track: Built for CIOs, CISOs, and IT directors. Cut IT costs, link security spending to business growth, and show compliance to the board with ease.The tactical engineering track: Built for security engineers and sysadmins. Join live, hands-on demos on Zero Trust access, endpoint security, and AI agent monitoring.The partner growth track: Built for MSPs and integrators. Learn how to launch high-margin compliance services, boost recurring revenue, and secure complex client environments.The security leadership track: Built for CISOs and security leaders. Tackle emerging threats, secure human and AI identities, strengthen Zero Trust controls, and simplify compliance and audit readiness.

Registration is free. To explore the agenda and reserve your place, visit jumpcloudland.jumpcloud.com.

About JumpCloud
JumpCloud® is the AI-powered unified IT management platform designed to secure the modern workforce. By consolidating identity, device, and access management, JumpCloud provides intelligent, secure IT that scales from human users to autonomous AI agents. We help organizations around the globe eliminate complexity and turn AI risk into an optimized advantage, ensuring the right people and agents have secure access to the right resources at all times.

Learn more: jumpcloud.com/
Follow us: Blog | Podcast | X | LinkedIn | YouTube | Resources

Contact
For JumpCloud
Josie Caracciolo
press@jumpcloud.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jumpcloudland-2027-build-your-playbook-for-intelligent-secure-it-302938124.html

SOURCE JumpCloud, Inc.

Continue Reading

Technology

Culver’s Concretes for a Cause Returns Nov. 16-20 to Help Fight Hunger in Local Communities

Published

on

By

Nearly 1,100 restaurants will donate $1 from every Concrete Mixer® sold to local hunger relief organizations

PRAIRIE DU SAC, Wis., Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Nearly 48 million people in the U.S. experience food insecurity. This November, Culver’s guests can help support neighbors facing hunger simply by enjoying a favorite treat. From Nov. 16-20, $1 from every Concrete Mixer® sold will support local food banks and hunger relief organizations in the communities Culver’s serves.

Since launching in 2020, Concretes for a Cause has raised more than $2.3 million for local food banks and hunger relief efforts, including more than $573,000 in 2025 alone. This year, nearly 1,100 Culver’s restaurants across 26 states will participate, with each restaurant supporting a local nonprofit to ensure dollars raised benefit neighbors in its community.

“Concretes for a Cause shows how something as simple as enjoying a Concrete Mixer can add up to meaningful support for our neighbors,” said Alison Demmer, Culver’s associate director of public relations, communications and cause. “Our restaurants know their communities best, which is why every dollar raised stays local and supports organizations helping people facing hunger right at home.”

Concretes for a Cause is part of Culver’s Give Local commitment, which empowers locally owned and operated restaurants to support the people and organizations making a difference in their communities. Culver’s community impact also extends to the future of agriculture through the Thank You Farmers® Project, which has raised more than $8.5 million over the past 13 years to support agricultural education and advance industry innovation.

Guests can participate from Nov. 16-20 by ordering any Concrete Mixer at a participating Culver’s restaurant. For every Concrete Mixer sold, $1 will go to a local food bank or hunger relief organization. To find a participating restaurant nearby, visit Culvers.com/locator.

About Culver’s:
For over 40 years, Culver’s guests have been treated to cooked-to-order food made with farm-fresh ingredients and served with a smile. The ever-expanding franchise system now numbers nearly 1,100 family-owned and operated restaurants in 26 states. The restaurants’ nationally recognized customer service is based on small-town, Midwestern values, genuine friendliness and an unwavering commitment to quality. Signature items include the award-winning ButterBurger, made from fresh, never frozen beef, and Fresh Frozen Custard, including the famous Flavor of the Day program. For more information, visit www.culvers.com or connect with Culver’s on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

CONTACT
Cody Amble
camble@hiebing.com
608.256.6357

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/culvers-concretes-for-a-cause-returns-nov-16-20-to-help-fight-hunger-in-local-communities-302938125.html

SOURCE Culver’s

Continue Reading

Trending