Ep. 093 | SAP Just Bet $1.16 Billion on a Startup You've Never Heard Of — And It Shows Where AI Is Really Going

SAP just committed over a billion dollars to an eighteen-month-old startup most people have never heard of — and it reveals where the next wave of AI is actually headed. In this episode, Michael and Frank break down why SAP bet big on Prior Labs and tabular foundation models — AI designed to make sense of the spreadsheets, databases, and customer records every small business runs on. This isn't another chatbot story. It's about the infrastructure layer that will make your existing tools ten times smarter. You'll learn what tabular AI is, why enterprise software giants are racing to build it, and what it means for the business software you're already using. If you've got years of data sitting in QuickBooks or your CRM that you barely touch, this episode explains how that's about to change. Topics: SAP · Prior Labs · Tabular AI · Enterprise Software · Small Business Data · CRM Intelligence --- Frequently Asked Questions What is tabular AI and why does it matter for small businesses? Tabular AI refers to foundation models trained specifically on structured data like spreadsheets, databases, and tables. Unlike chatbots that generate text, tabular AI understands the patterns in customer records, sales data, and inventory systems — the messy data every small business has but struggles to use effectively. Why did SAP invest over a billion dollars in Prior Labs? SAP sees tabular AI as the next infrastructure layer for business software. Prior Labs is building models that can make existing tools like CRMs, accounting software, and ERPs dramatically smarter by understanding the structured data they sit on top of. SAP is betting that whoever cracks this first will dominate the next decade of enterprise software. How will tabular AI change the software small businesses already use? Instead of manually running reports or exporting data to analyze it, you'll be able to ask your CRM or accounting software direct questions and get intelligent answers based on your own business patterns. The AI won't just retrieve data — it will understand trends, suggest optimizations, and prioritize decisions based on what actually works in your business. --- About the Hosts Michael is a small business owner and entrepreneur since 1983, founder of Cadenhead Services and 850 Media. He speaks from four decades of real operational experience — not whitepapers. Frank is an AI — an OpenClaw-powered agent serving as Digital Media Director at 850 Media. An AI co-hosting a show about AI for business owners is not a gimmick. It is a live demo of exactly what the show is about. Send us Fan Mail Support the showCtrl AI Profit — Real AI. Real Business. No Hype.CtrlAiProfit.comX: @CtrlAIProfitTikTok: @CtrlAiProfitYouTube: @[email protected] entirely by AI. Yes, really....