SAP CTO on Business AI Platform and API Policy

SAP is redefining its identity, shifting from a traditional software vendor to an AI-driven platform, according to CTO Philipp Herzig. The company’s new Business AI platform and tightened API policies signal a strategic pivot where security becomes paramount as AI agents access enterprise data, while CEO Christian Klein openly questions whether SAP will remain a software company.

Philipp Herzig, SAP’s Chief Technology Officer, outlined this evolution, emphasizing that the updated API policies are designed to tighten security in response to a new class of AI agents that directly access enterprise data. This move represents a fundamental rethinking of how enterprise applications are built and secured in an AI-native era.

CEO Christian Klein has taken the internal debate a step further, publicly questioning SAP’s future identity as a software company. His remarks underscore a broader industry trend—software incumbents are increasingly repositioning themselves as platform and intelligence providers, rather than just code vendors.

Industry analysts interpret this as a strategic push to accelerate customer innovation. By making API security a critical priority and embedding AI at the core of its platform, SAP is forcing enterprises to modernize faster, transforming Business AI from a product feature into the foundation of its entire ecosystem.