SAIC's AI executive says Koverse acquisition is 'foundational to our strategy'

Science Applications International Corp.'s artificial intelligence leader says the company plans to integrate newly acquired technology into AI work throughout the business.

In an interview with Inside Defense, Michael Scruggs, appointed senior vice president of artificial intelligence in February, said Koverse, which SAIC bought last month, will help SAIC differentiate its AI work.

"This is very foundational to our strategy because what Koverse does is very unique in the way they manage complex and very sensitive data," he said. "The stanchion for an AI strategy is being able to help our customers get their data straight because without data, there is no AI."

Scruggs, who spent 12 years in IBM's cloud and cognitive business unit before joining SAIC, said each of SAIC's business units is working on integrating Koverse into its existing work.

"I'd like to see a future where we're bringing AI into every engagement that we deploy for our customers," he said.

Scruggs said SAIC continues to look at potential AI acquisitions.

"I don't believe that there's one platform out there that can do all of it from soup to nuts really, really well so we're looking at opportunities to improve the way we do AI," he said. "I want to make sure that we've got the best-in-class technologies."