SAS is the acronym for Self Aware Substructure. Coined by
cosmologist Max Tegmark, it refers to the idea that self aware entities must
necessarily exist as sub-systems within a larger systematic structure. Presumably, there are other possible complex, systematic structures than our own universe, that are capable of producing types of self aware substructures aka
intelligent beings.
"Given a
mathematical structure, we will say that it has
physical
existence if any self-aware substructure (SAS)
within it subjectively perceives
itself as living in a physically
real world." - Max Tegmark, arXiv:0905.1283