SAP AI Ethics Handbook
SAP believes that Artificial Intelligence has the potential to unlock boundless potential for businesses, governments, and society. However, AI may also create economic, political, and societal challenges, depending on how it is used and implemented. SAP's Global AI Ethics Policy governs the development, deployment, use, and sale of AI systems at SAP by defining clear rules of ethics that are aligned with SAP’s established guiding principles for AI and its core organizational values. Our updated SAP AI Ethics Handbook explains how to put the AI Ethics Policy into practice throughout the development lifecycle. It covers principles such as transparency and explainability, human oversight and determination, and fairness and non-discrimination, so customers can deploy AI with confidence.Download SAP's AI Ethics Handbook now for the latest hands-on guidance for developing ethical AI use cases. Preuzmite dokumentSAP
AI Ethics
Handbook
Applying the SAP Global
AI Ethics Policy across the
SAP Business AI Lifecycle.
Development Lifecycle Chapter
External
AI Ethics
Handbook
Applying the SAP Global
AI Ethics Policy across the
SAP Business AI Lifecycle.
Development Lifecycle Chapter
External
Table of
contents.
The SAP Global AI Ethics Policy 0.09
SAP ’s Ethical AI Guiding Principles 0.10
Red lines and high-risk cases 0.36
02. Validation 0.56
03. Realization 0.62
01. Ideation 0.50
04. Productization 0.68
05. Operations 0.74
SAP Business AI Lifecycle 0.42
www.sap.com
Authors
Camila Lombana Diaz
Saskia Welsch
Updated version: May 2026
A human-centered approach 0.44
Principles into action 0.22
SAP’s AI ethics assessment process 0.40
Partner ecosystem 0.16
AI regulations and the European AI Act 0.18
Appendix 0.80
AI Ethics at SAP 0.06
Understanding enterprise AI terminology 0.24
List of acronyms 0.82
List of resources 0.84
Version history 0.86
Compliance with the EU AI Act 0.20
SAP’s top three actionable responsible AI proficiencies 0.32
The SAP Business AI Lifecycle 0.48
contents.
The SAP Global AI Ethics Policy 0.09
SAP ’s Ethical AI Guiding Principles 0.10
Red lines and high-risk cases 0.36
02. Validation 0.56
03. Realization 0.62
01. Ideation 0.50
04. Productization 0.68
05. Operations 0.74
SAP Business AI Lifecycle 0.42
www.sap.com
Authors
Camila Lombana Diaz
Saskia Welsch
Updated version: May 2026
A human-centered approach 0.44
Principles into action 0.22
SAP’s AI ethics assessment process 0.40
Partner ecosystem 0.16
AI regulations and the European AI Act 0.18
Appendix 0.80
AI Ethics at SAP 0.06
Understanding enterprise AI terminology 0.24
List of acronyms 0.82
List of resources 0.84
Version history 0.86
Compliance with the EU AI Act 0.20
SAP’s top three actionable responsible AI proficiencies 0.32
The SAP Business AI Lifecycle 0.48
This document is intended to serve
as a general guide for applying
the SAP Global AI Ethics Policy in
everyday work and is not meant to
advise, implement, or replace either
existing or new processes, policies, or
procedures. This guide is not intended
to be comprehensive and is not a
substitute for legal or data protection
and privacy advice.
Disclaimer.
Foreword.
Dear colleagues and stakeholders,
We are thrilled to introduce the SAP
AI Ethics Handbook, a comprehensive
guide that maps the requirements of
our SAP Global AI Ethics Policy to the
various stages of the AI development
process. This handbook is a vital tool
for our commitment to ensuring that
our AI solutions are relevant, reliable,
and responsible.
At SAP, we recognize the immense
potential of AI to drive innovation
and transformation across industries.
However, we also understand the
importance of ensuring that the
development and deployment of AI
technologies are guided by ethical
principles and values. For this reason,
our AI ethics policy is grounded in the
principles laid out in the UNESCO’s
“Recommendation on the Ethics of
Artificial Intelligence” published in
2023.
The SAP AI Ethics Handbook serves
as a practical and accessible resource
for SAP and partners involved in the
development and deployment of
AI solutions at SAP. It provides clear
guidance on how to implement SAP
Business AI features and solutions that
align with our AI ethics policy, thereby
fostering trust and transparency in our
AI technologies.
By following the guidelines outlined
in this handbook, we can ensure that
our AI solutions uphold the highest
standards of ethics, transparency, and
accountability. Ultimately, this will
enable us to deliver AI technologies
that have a positive impact on our
users, our customers, and society at
large.
All our valued partners and SAP
employees are encouraged to
familiarize themselves with the
contents of this handbook and to
integrate these principles into their
work. Together, we can leverage the
power of AI in a way that is ethical,
responsible, and beneficial for all.
Thank you for your dedication and
commitment to upholding ethical
standards in our AI solutions.
Sincerely,
Walter Sun
SVP, Global Head SAP Business AI
as a general guide for applying
the SAP Global AI Ethics Policy in
everyday work and is not meant to
advise, implement, or replace either
existing or new processes, policies, or
procedures. This guide is not intended
to be comprehensive and is not a
substitute for legal or data protection
and privacy advice.
Disclaimer.
Foreword.
Dear colleagues and stakeholders,
We are thrilled to introduce the SAP
AI Ethics Handbook, a comprehensive
guide that maps the requirements of
our SAP Global AI Ethics Policy to the
various stages of the AI development
process. This handbook is a vital tool
for our commitment to ensuring that
our AI solutions are relevant, reliable,
and responsible.
At SAP, we recognize the immense
potential of AI to drive innovation
and transformation across industries.
However, we also understand the
importance of ensuring that the
development and deployment of AI
technologies are guided by ethical
principles and values. For this reason,
our AI ethics policy is grounded in the
principles laid out in the UNESCO’s
“Recommendation on the Ethics of
Artificial Intelligence” published in
2023.
The SAP AI Ethics Handbook serves
as a practical and accessible resource
for SAP and partners involved in the
development and deployment of
AI solutions at SAP. It provides clear
guidance on how to implement SAP
Business AI features and solutions that
align with our AI ethics policy, thereby
fostering trust and transparency in our
AI technologies.
By following the guidelines outlined
in this handbook, we can ensure that
our AI solutions uphold the highest
standards of ethics, transparency, and
accountability. Ultimately, this will
enable us to deliver AI technologies
that have a positive impact on our
users, our customers, and society at
large.
All our valued partners and SAP
employees are encouraged to
familiarize themselves with the
contents of this handbook and to
integrate these principles into their
work. Together, we can leverage the
power of AI in a way that is ethical,
responsible, and beneficial for all.
Thank you for your dedication and
commitment to upholding ethical
standards in our AI solutions.
Sincerely,
Walter Sun
SVP, Global Head SAP Business AI
AI
Ethics
at SAP.
Since 2018, with the establishment
of our first ethical principles on
Artificial Intelligence (AI), SAP has
demonstrated a steadfast commitment
to the ethical development,
deployment, use, and sale of AI
systems.
SAP’s dedication to the Global Human
Rights Commitment Statement, which
upholds and supports the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, serves as
the cornerstone of our approach to AI
ethics.
Recent reports from the Thomson
Reuters Foundation in collaboration
with UNESCO, as well as the
Collective Impact Coalition (CIC)
for Ethical AI, highlight SAP as a
leading example in operationalizing
responsible AI. SAP is recognized
as one of only 12.4% of the 2,972
companies assessed that have a policy
in place to ensure human oversight.
SAP not only excels in defining and
adopting ethical principles but also
distinguishes itself by transparently
showcasing how these principles are
put into action.
Ethics
at SAP.
Since 2018, with the establishment
of our first ethical principles on
Artificial Intelligence (AI), SAP has
demonstrated a steadfast commitment
to the ethical development,
deployment, use, and sale of AI
systems.
SAP’s dedication to the Global Human
Rights Commitment Statement, which
upholds and supports the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, serves as
the cornerstone of our approach to AI
ethics.
Recent reports from the Thomson
Reuters Foundation in collaboration
with UNESCO, as well as the
Collective Impact Coalition (CIC)
for Ethical AI, highlight SAP as a
leading example in operationalizing
responsible AI. SAP is recognized
as one of only 12.4% of the 2,972
companies assessed that have a policy
in place to ensure human oversight.
SAP not only excels in defining and
adopting ethical principles but also
distinguishes itself by transparently
showcasing how these principles are
put into action.
The first two chapters present the
SAP Global AI Ethics Policy and
SAP’s Ethical AI Guiding Principles.
They also provide clarity on the
regulatory landscape and how SAP
responsibly incorporates AI developed
by suppliers and partners into the AI
value chain.
Chapter “Principles into action”
clarifies how to understand AI within
an enterprise context. It defines which
AI use cases are prohibited within
SAP, and how high-risk use cases are
classified pointing out the necessary
approval processes. Every use case
must complete the AI Use Case Impact
Assessment at the beginning of the
development process.
Finally, “SAP Business AI lifecycle”
chapter provides an overview of all
lifecycle stages, keeping in mind that
a human-centered approach also
includes the people involved in the
development process. Before each
stage is introduced in more detail,
some general guidelines are described
regarding how the AI Ethics Policy
applies.
You can find a collection of links and
sources at the end of the handbook
which will guide you through the SAP
Business AI lifecycle.
The sources are not meant to be
binding, but to bring some checkpoints
that we consider helpful depending
on your use case. SAP personnel
shall approach ethical dilemmas and
trade-offs related to their use case
through reasoned, context-relevant,
and evidence-based decision-making
rather than intuition or random
discretion.
SAP employees are encouraged to
raise concerns related to possible
policy breaches to their management
for evaluation, even if they only have
doubts or concerns.
If an end-user or affected individual
either at SAP or outside the company
has concerns about an AI system, they
can raise these concerns anonymously
using the SpeakOut tool.
If questions or concerns remain, then
employees should inform the
AI Ethics Office.
About
the
Handbook.
The
AI Ethics
Policy.
The third version of the SAP Global
AI Ethics Policy remains grounded in
UNESCO’s “Recommendation on the
Ethics of Artificial Intelligence” while
incorporating additional frameworks
and reflecting technological
developments.
The policy clarifies how SAP’s Ethical
AI Guiding Principles relate to AI use
cases, indicating requirements for each
of the principles. The policy applies to
SAP and all its employees worldwide.
It defines the intent, expectations, and
obligations of employees involved in
the design, development, deployment,
and sale of AI systems while also
acknowledging the role of external
stakeholders in the AI system lifecycle.
Each actor involved in any phase of the
AI system lifecycle must ensure that
AI systems are designed, developed,
sold, and used in accordance with the
ethical principles outlined in this policy
and that these ethical principles are
maintained and followed throughout
the AI system lifecycle.
Adherence to these ethical principles
is especially important so customers
and the public can trust SAP’s ability
to develop, deploy, use, and sell AI
systems responsibly and ethically.
98Development Lifecycle ChapterSAP AI Ethics Handbook | External
SAP Global AI Ethics Policy and
SAP’s Ethical AI Guiding Principles.
They also provide clarity on the
regulatory landscape and how SAP
responsibly incorporates AI developed
by suppliers and partners into the AI
value chain.
Chapter “Principles into action”
clarifies how to understand AI within
an enterprise context. It defines which
AI use cases are prohibited within
SAP, and how high-risk use cases are
classified pointing out the necessary
approval processes. Every use case
must complete the AI Use Case Impact
Assessment at the beginning of the
development process.
Finally, “SAP Business AI lifecycle”
chapter provides an overview of all
lifecycle stages, keeping in mind that
a human-centered approach also
includes the people involved in the
development process. Before each
stage is introduced in more detail,
some general guidelines are described
regarding how the AI Ethics Policy
applies.
You can find a collection of links and
sources at the end of the handbook
which will guide you through the SAP
Business AI lifecycle.
The sources are not meant to be
binding, but to bring some checkpoints
that we consider helpful depending
on your use case. SAP personnel
shall approach ethical dilemmas and
trade-offs related to their use case
through reasoned, context-relevant,
and evidence-based decision-making
rather than intuition or random
discretion.
SAP employees are encouraged to
raise concerns related to possible
policy breaches to their management
for evaluation, even if they only have
doubts or concerns.
If an end-user or affected individual
either at SAP or outside the company
has concerns about an AI system, they
can raise these concerns anonymously
using the SpeakOut tool.
If questions or concerns remain, then
employees should inform the
AI Ethics Office.
About
the
Handbook.
The
AI Ethics
Policy.
The third version of the SAP Global
AI Ethics Policy remains grounded in
UNESCO’s “Recommendation on the
Ethics of Artificial Intelligence” while
incorporating additional frameworks
and reflecting technological
developments.
The policy clarifies how SAP’s Ethical
AI Guiding Principles relate to AI use
cases, indicating requirements for each
of the principles. The policy applies to
SAP and all its employees worldwide.
It defines the intent, expectations, and
obligations of employees involved in
the design, development, deployment,
and sale of AI systems while also
acknowledging the role of external
stakeholders in the AI system lifecycle.
Each actor involved in any phase of the
AI system lifecycle must ensure that
AI systems are designed, developed,
sold, and used in accordance with the
ethical principles outlined in this policy
and that these ethical principles are
maintained and followed throughout
the AI system lifecycle.
Adherence to these ethical principles
is especially important so customers
and the public can trust SAP’s ability
to develop, deploy, use, and sell AI
systems responsibly and ethically.
98Development Lifecycle ChapterSAP AI Ethics Handbook | External