SAP's AI ethics: Augmenting human capability, not replacing human judgment

15 October 2024
Written by Danielle Larocca

With over 25 years in SAP Human Capital Management, Danielle is a recognized leader in HR technology. She holds the distinguished roles of SAP Mentor and SuccessFactors Confidant, and serves as HXM Chairperson for ASUG (America's SAP User Group). Danielle is a sought-after speaker at international conferences, sharing insights on HR tech trends. She has authored four best-selling books on SAP and holds certifications in both SAP and SuccessFactors technologies.

In a landmark move in August, SAP unveiled its comprehensive ethical guidelines for the development and use of generative AI and business AI applications. This update to their AI ethics policy marks a significant step forward in responsible AI governance, setting a new standard for the tech industry.SAP's new ethics policy is not built in a vacuum. It draws inspiration from UNESCO's recommendations for ethical AI, demonstrating SAP's commitment to aligning with global standards and best practices.

532800-October-Draft-Blog-SAPs-AI-Ethics-Augmenting-Human-Capability,-Not-Replacing-Human-Judgment_blog-header

In a landmark move on August 1, SAP unveiled its comprehensive ethical guidelines for the development and use of generative AI and business AI applications. This update to their AI ethics policy marks a significant step forward in responsible AI governance, setting a new standard for the tech industry.

A foundation built on UNESCO recommendations

SAP's new ethics policy is not built in a vacuum. It draws inspiration from UNESCO's recommendations for ethical AI, demonstrating SAP's commitment to aligning with global standards and best practices. This approach not only ensures a robust ethical framework, but also positions SAP to adapt smoothly to future regulatory requirements.

The 10 principles: A closer look

At the heart of SAP's updated policy are ten guiding principles, each carefully crafted to address the unique challenges and opportunities presented by AI in the business world.

  • Principle 1: Proportionality and Do Not Harm
  • Principle 2: Safety and Security
  • Principle 3: Fairness and Non-Discrimination
  • Principle 4: Sustainability
  • Principle 5: Right to Privacy and Data Protection
  • Principle 6: Human Oversight and Determination
  • Principle 7: Transparency and Explainability
  • Principle 8: Responsibility and Accountability
  • Principle 9: Awareness and Literacy
  • Principle 10: Multi-Stakeholder and Adaptive Governance and Collaboration

While all principles are crucial, let's spotlight one that exemplifies SAP's human-centric approach:

Principle 6: Human Oversight and Determination

As a Human Resources professional, I am always interested in the Human aspect. This principle states that ‘AI systems shall be subject to appropriate human oversight. The rights and freedoms of affected individuals shall exceed those of AI systems.’

 

SAP's implementation of this principle is particularly noteworthy:

 

Human oversight is achieved through appropriate governance mechanisms. These mechanisms can include Human-in-the-loop, Human-on-the-loop, or Human-in-command approaches. The choice of oversight method is context-dependent, considering the use case, state of the art, and potential risks to individual rights and freedoms. This principle underscores SAP's commitment to ensuring that AI remains a tool to augment human capabilities rather than replace human judgment entirely.

Red lines: Defining the boundaries

SAP's policy goes beyond principles to explicitly outline ‘red line’ items - uses of AI that are strictly prohibited due to their potential to infringe on individual freedoms or societal well-being. For instance, the policy bars the use of AI for building surveillance systems targeting individuals or manipulating groups unfairly.

Enforcement and accountability

Recognizing that principles are only as strong as their enforcement, SAP has put in place concrete measures to ensure compliance:

  • Documented enforcement procedures provide clear guidelines for addressing violations.
  • The "Speak Out" tool empowers customers to report potential issues, fostering a culture of accountability.
  • SAP's approach aligns with the United Nations' Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, integrating human rights considerations into standard business practices.

Education and accessibility

Understanding that effective implementation requires widespread understanding, SAP has launched several initiatives to educate stakeholders:

  • Dedicated Community pages and groups provide spaces for discussion and learning.
  • Updates to SAP's learning site offer formal training opportunities.
  • Partner programs have been enhanced to include guidance on ethical AI practices.

The bigger picture: AI and the future of work

SAP's ethical AI strategy is part of a broader vision for the future of work. In a recent interview, SAP's Chief Future of Work Officer, Christian Schmeichel, discussed how AI is set to revolutionize employee experiences and usher in new paradigms like skill-based work. This holistic approach demonstrates SAP's understanding that ethical AI is not just about technology, but about shaping the future of human-AI collaboration in the workplace.

Industry context: AWS and the AI chip market

While SAP focuses on ethical AI implementation, other industry giants like AWS are making moves in the AI hardware space. AWS CEO Matt Garman recently shared his thoughts on the future of AI-ready chips, expressing confidence in a market big enough for multiple players. This development highlights the multi-faceted nature of AI advancement, spanning software, ethics, and hardware.

Practical applications: EPI-USE Labs’ AI-driven solutions

As companies like SAP and AWS push the boundaries of AI technology and ethics, service providers like EPI-USE Labs are leveraging these advancements to create practical solutions. For example, watch this webinar on BTP and AI. EPI-USE Labs also has a clearly-defined policy for all its employees on ethical use of AI in the workplace.

 

Another example: EPI-USE's GenAI for Microsoft Workloads Program illustrates how AI can be responsibly integrated into existing infrastructure, offering businesses a path to modernization that aligns with ethical guidelines.

A call to action

SAP's updated AI ethics policy represents more than just a set of guidelines; it's a call to action for the entire tech industry. By prioritizing human rights, emphasizing oversight, and promoting education, SAP is setting a new standard for responsible AI development and use.

 

As we move forward in this AI-driven era, it's crucial for businesses, developers, and users alike to engage with these ethical frameworks. SAP's approach provides a valuable model for balancing innovation with responsibility, ensuring that as AI becomes more powerful, it remains a force for good in society.

 

To truly understand the depth and implications of SAP's ethical AI strategy, I encourage readers to explore SAP's detailed policy documents. As AI continues to shape our world, staying informed about these ethical guidelines is not just beneficial; it's essential.

 

532800-October-Draft-Blog-SAPs-AI-Ethics-Augmenting-Human-Capability,-Not-Replacing-Human-Judgment_CTA

 

 

 

Explore Popular Tags

SAP SuccessFactors Query Manager SAP HCM SAP HCM reporting HCM Reporting Intelligent HR and Payroll SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll Human Capital Management (HCM) SAP Payroll SAP Reporting EPI-USE Labs HCM SAP SuccessFactors Reporting PRISM Payroll Payroll reporting reporting Document Builder Query Manager Analytics Connector SAP Analytics Cloud SAP HCM Data SAP Query SAP S/4HANA Artificial Intelligence (AI) Microsoft PowerBI SAP Payroll data SAP SuccessFactors People Analytics Variance Monitor SAP HXM HR and Payroll data SAP S/4HANA Private Cloud Edition (S/4 PCE) Tableau HXM Move Payroll Data SAP SAP ERP HCM SAP HCM On-Premise Solutions SAP HCM Payroll SAP HR Reporting SuccessConnect people analytics sap query hr Data Sync Manager Employee Central Payroll Journey to SAP SuccessFactors Machine Learning (ML) PRISM for HCM (Private Cloud Edition) PRISM free assessment SAP HCM journey SAP and SuccessFactors HXM Reporting AI COVID-19 Cloud-based SAP HCM solutions Employee Central Payroll Reporting Employee data Employee payroll GeoClock H4S4 HCM Productivity Suite HR PRISM for ECP SAP Business Technology Platform SAP HCM/HXM SuccessFactors reporting solution ABAP DSM for HCM Joule Let's Talk HCM On-Premise Payroll Pay Recon SAP HCM Analysis SAP HCM for SAP S/4HANA On-Premise SAP HR SAP SuccessFactors HCM Journey SAP SuccessFactors Roadmaps SAP data privacy and compliance Transformation without re-implementation Ultimate Guide: SAP HCM & Payroll Options accurate payroll data data validation payroll control center 2024 BTP ChatGPT Data Sync Manager for HCM Digital transformation EPI-USE Labs’ solutions Employee Central Employee communication GDPR Generative AI HCM, HR Large Language Models Move to SuccessFactors Employee Central OData PRISM for H4S4 Query Manager with Document Builder Real-time reporting and document creation SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) SAP Data Warehouse Cloud SAP HCM On-premise SAP HCM for S/4HANA SAP On-Premise customers SAP Payroll to the Cloud SAP Road maps SAP SAPPHIRE 2024 SAP SuccessFactors Time Management SAP SuccessFactors Time Tracking SAP customers SAP data SAP data privacy & security Success Factors SuccessConnect 2019 Tax Reporting Time management certification custom infotype data source ebook on-premise SAP HCM s/4HANA Analytics solutions Automated reports Automation Cloud migrations Comparing data DSM Object Sync for SuccessFactors Hybrid Data Secure Data Types Data analysis Employee Central time Employee Letters Free HCM Assessment HR Journey HR employee reports Hourly time tracking Human Experience Management (HXM) Human Resources Human Resources data Hybrid Reporting SAP and SuccessFactors Hybrid SAP and SuccessFactors Hybrid reporting Hybrid reporting solution Integrated reporting SuccessFactors SAP Intelligent Enterprise Microsoft Excel Natural Language Processing News OData integration OM Object Sync On-Premise Payroll S/HANA Sidecar On-premise reporting Organization of the data PA Pay reconciliation People Analytics Workforce Planning Personalized documents Prompt Engineering Protect personal employee data Report Stories Reporting and analysis Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Robotic Process Automation framework S/4HANA Private Cloud Edition (PCE) SAP BTP SAP Data Privacy Suite SAP Data Security SAP ERP Payroll customers SAP HCM 2023 SAP HCM Roadmap SAP HCM and Payroll customers SAP HXM 2021 SAP Mentors SAP SuccessFactors Hybrid SAP SuccessFactors Next-Gen Payroll SAP SuccessFactors Release updates SAP Wage Type Reporter SAP certified solution SAP migration SAPPHIRE 2018 SuccessFactors and the Intelligence Enterprise SuccessFactors' Employee Central Payroll TCO Calculator The Report Center The Road to People Analytics Tracking employee time Workforce Planning ad hoc data variances easy reporter high-speed, low-risk on-premise SAP data partner roadmap single reporting solution sq01 stories in SAP SuccessFactors People Analytics technology third party ALE STP report APJ ASUG Accessing COVID-19 data Ad Hoc Query American Payroll Association (APA) Analytics Connector Analytics reports Analytics solution At-risk employees Australian Payroll Australian Tax Office (ATO) Automated analysis and pay run reconciliations Automatic HR reports Best practice in BI Bots Business Analytics Business Intelligence COVID-19 statistics COVID-19 vaccinations Certified solutions Check for data replication errors Client Sync Client-centric Cloud Cloud hosting SAP PCE Cloud innovations Company Branding Compare legacy HR and Payroll data Configuration Center Copy and mask test data Coronavirus Created timestamp Custom Development Custom store Customer-specific infotypes DSAG Data Privacy Data Replication Data Sources Data Sync Manager (DSM) Data access Data privacy regulations Data production support issue solution Deep Learning Democratize data Description Diversity & Inclusion reporting DocuSign
+ See More

Get Instant Updates


Leave a Comment: