Subscribe to our newsletters for daily and weekly updates, along with exclusive content on the latest industry-leading AI developments.
Over the past year, many people in technology and business have been focusing more on artificial intelligence (AI), especially since OpenAI’s ChatGPT made generative AI widely popular. For Juergen Mueller, the Chief Technology Officer of SAP, the journey into AI for business processes began almost a decade ago. Mueller shared this in a recent interview at SAP’s New York office.
Mueller explained that in the early days, they used machine learning models for specific use cases, involving a lot of retraining. Currently, SAP has more than 130 AI use cases embedded in its software. Throughout this year, amid the rise of new AI models from companies like OpenAI and Cohere, SAP continued to innovate, releasing its cross-platform AI assistant, Joule, within its enterprise resource planning (ERP) suite. SAP also introduced its own SAP HANA Cloud Vector Engine, a search tool using AI to analyze data privately.
Now, as many companies are rushing to integrate AI, Mueller finds himself ahead of the curve. As 2023, a significant year for AI adoption, comes to a close, he shares his insights on AI technologies and how businesses can prepare for the future.
Mueller recounted SAP’s AI journey, starting about eight and a half years ago with a focus on machine learning. They utilized pre-trained models, which required extensive retraining, embedding more than 130 AI use cases into SAP software. The past 12 months have seen a leap in interest around generative AI, leading SAP to screen hundreds of ideas and make around two dozen concrete announcements. SAP covers various business processes across 26 different industries, from hiring to retirement and procurement to customer experience.
AI applications vary by industry, adapting to tasks such as creating job postings in HR or interacting with university students in higher education. SAP has trained over 50,000 employees in generative AI to expedite new developments. Their unified strategy now includes Joule, infusing generative AI across HR, finance, and customer experience departments, wherever it makes sense.
SAP’s strategic aim is to make business processes as efficient as possible. For example, when a customer like UBS needs to generate a job post, AI can quickly assemble language from previous posts, saving significant time. The SAP HANA Cloud system integrates a vector engine to precisely manage and retrieve data, minimizing errors and enhancing efficiency.
Every SAP customer has their personalized vectorized database, facilitating tailored AI solutions. SAP aims to make AI as accessible and useful as tools like Google Maps, simplifying tasks and empowering business users.
Regarding the widespread use of generative AI, Mueller acknowledges that while the technology’s broad adoption has substantial potential, delivering quality AI solutions remains challenging. Poor implementation can lead to unsatisfactory user experiences, highlighting the importance of good data and customer consent.
Chief Information Officers (CIOs) prefer partnering with trusted, established companies like SAP over numerous new AI startups. SAP’s generative AI hub offers valuable insights and recommendations, helping clients focus on their main value and cost drivers. SAP enriches customer data with metadata and structured business processes, facilitating organized and efficient data management.
Legal considerations are integral to SAP’s AI development. With over 50,000 developers trained in AI safety, security, responsibility, and legality, SAP’s AI ethics council plays a crucial role, vetting and approving all AI use cases to ensure ethical standards are upheld.
Stay updated with the latest AI news by subscribing to our newsletter.