AI Interview with Bill McDermott (CEO of SAP)

On Monday, 21. November 2016 we had the opportunity to meet Bill McDermott, the CEO of SAP during a Fireside Chat in Madrid. After his interesting speech we couldn't hesitate to ask him about his thoughts concerning Artificial Intelligence:

"The idea of machine learning or artificial intelligence is quite substantial. On one hand there is a super computer that is better than humans. That’s one aspect. But then there are also other aspects for example we all want to eliminate bias from the workforce, we want a fair level playing field, we all want to have women with equal opportunity, we all want people no matter where they come from or what their background is and to have an equal chance and doing well in the modern economy. So removing gender and bias from the workplace to me was an important thing.

SAP for example is pioneering machine learning and intelligent applications as a form of artificial intelligence in the business software. For example: Today there is a person looking for a job and then there is a profile of a job somewhere and people are scouring rèsumès and profiles and trying to match. We decided that A: that’s pretty unproductive but B: humans have a natural bias no matter who they are that’s just natural experiences and biases. So now we have machines to do that and they learn what the profile is. They look at the candidates and match that and that’s music artificial intelligence and machine learning to remove bias from the workplace.

And there are couple of more examples of applications utilizing machine learning and artificial intelligence. I think the internet of things is an massive opportunity with the sensorization and everything being completely connected for example Trenitalia in Naples, Italy. I was there recently and they have the entire rail system being preventively maintained on sensors connecting to the internet of things to preventatively maintain other assets. 

Others have those real time methods connected to the consumers so they can conduct retail and eCommerce while they are moving and transporting from one place to another. 

These things are just getting started and it’s going to truly be a fascinating world."