European leaders are facing mounting pressure to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence within the continent’s business landscape, with SAP CEO Thomas Saueressig highlighting a critical disconnect between awareness and implementation. In an interview Tuesday with RTL and ntv, Saueressig asserted that the core issue isn’t a lack of understanding regarding AI’s potential, but rather the failure to integrate it effectively into core business processes. He characterized current experimentation as a “playground” rather than a strategic component of operational efficiency.
Saueressig emphasized that Europe possesses a significant advantage – a vast repository of industrial data – which remains largely untapped. “We have an enormous treasure that needs to be unearthed” he stated, signaling a need for focused and concerted effort to leverage this resource.
To facilitate this shift, SAP has committed a substantial investment exceeding €20 billion into sovereign AI and cloud solutions. Saueressig’s definition of “sovereignty” is crucial here; it’s framed not as isolationism, but as ensuring freedom of choice and enabling European companies to access cutting-edge technology developed within the region. This emphasis on “sovereignty” is viewed by some analysts as a subtle critique of the current dominance of US and Chinese technology giants, suggesting a desire for greater strategic autonomy for European businesses.
However, the call for “global perspective” alongside European development raises questions about the practical balance. Concerns are growing regarding potential fragmentation of the AI ecosystem if various regional approaches develop in isolation. While the commitment to sovereign AI signals a political desire for control and influence, the challenge lies in ensuring that European AI innovation remains competitive and interoperable on a global scale. Critics argue that the current focus on “sovereignty” could inadvertently stifle the collaborative nature of AI development, potentially hindering progress and economic competitiveness in the long run. The real test lies in whether SAP and European policymakers can deliver on the promise of a robust, globally-minded and strategically independent AI ecosystem.