SAP is making a big bet on artificial intelligence (AI), and will launch its first solutions as soon as January 2017.
Franck Cohen, president: Europe, Middle East and Africa at SAP, says the company will make its first products generally available next month.
“This product will cover things like treasury management, inventory management, sales analysis and predicting customer behaviour,” he explains.
Cohen adds that SAP will launch about 25 AI products during 2017, and this will rise dramatically to about 250 the following year.
SAP currently employs about 500 developers in its AI discipline, and this will increase to about 5 000 developers in just the next couple of years.
“I think AI represents the capability to help humankind manage the big challenges that we have – limited resources, human sustainability and more,” Cohen says. “I think these engines will be able to help us.”
He believes AI will soon find its way into every aspect of the business. “I think it is fascinating to imagine what we are going to be able to do in terms of automation and supporting the business, reducing costs and inventing new businesses.
“I am confident that the AI space will grow much faster than people think.”
In fact, there are predictions that machine learning and AI will be able to match and even surpass the human brain within 15 to 20 years. But the rapid pace of change could bring this about in as little as five years, Cohen believes.
“AI is like electricity,” he says. “Electricity quickly changed industry after industry, and AI will do the same.
“I believe it will be a revolution that will be more radical than anything we have ever seen. Cloud computing, in-memory computing and mobile – these are nothing compared to the impact that AI will have.”
He points out that there are already AI systems that can read X-rays better than any radiologist, while self-driving cars are widespread, as is image and voice recognition.
“There are 150 000 cabs in New York,” Cohen points out. “But 9 000 self-driving cars could do the same job – and people would wait less time, and pay half the price.”