CSO Insights: The big blind spot software giant SAP sees in AI strategies

In this episode of the All Things Sustainable podcast, we explore the risks and opportunities AI presents for companies in an interview with Sophia Mendelsohn.

Sophia is Chief Sustainability and Commercial Officer at SAP, one of the world's largest producers of software. She outlines how companies are leveraging AI to become more sustainable. She also explains why many executives have "a blind spot" in their AI strategy when it comes to sustainability.

"They're racing to scale the technology, and we're treating sustainability sort of as last year's hype cycle ... instead of a condition for AI growth," Sophia says. "AI's first wave of expansion was fueled by our awe of the technology, but our second wave of the expansion has to be powered and protected by our ability to reconcile AI with the physical world we're using it in."

This episode is the latest installment in our CSO Insights podcast series, where we interview Chief Sustainability Officers around the world and across industries. Listen to other episodes in this series here.

Further reading:

AI adoption is soaring, but few companies are measuring its impact | S&P Global

S&P Global's Top 10 Sustainability Trends to Watch in 2026 | S&P Global

Copyright ©2026 by S&P Global

DISCLAIMER

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk.

Any unauthorized use, facilitation or encouragement of a third party's unauthorized use (including without limitation copy, distribution, transmission or modification, use as part of generative artificial intelligence or for training any artificial intelligence models) of this Podcast or any related information is not permitted without S&P Global's prior consent subject to appropriate licensing and shall be deemed an infringement, violation, breach or contravention of the rights of S&P Global or any applicable third-party (including any copyright, trademark, patent, rights of privacy or publicity or any other proprietary rights).

This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.

S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.