Cisco is embracing AI-first innovation, integrating networking, security, and data to lead the next wave of digital transformation.

Cisco is aiming for a revolution with a strong AI foundation to solidify its position as a leader in data infrastructures, networking, and security. Historically associated with routers, switches, and Webex, the company has turned its attention to AI with a $28 billion acquisition of Splunk, together with strategic partnerships with Nvidia, Anthropic, and Scale.AI.

Cisco Chief Product Officer Jeetu Patel aims to integrate AI across Cisco's offerings and create a difference between internal silos. For him, the shift is so huge that either an organization will learn from AI or struggle for relevance. Most companies still feel unprepared because of infrastructure concerns, security risks, and shortage of skills—this is where Cisco intends to lead.

Cisco has created secure high-performance networking for AI agents, machine-scale security, and AI safety to prevent risky outcomes, such as model hallucinations. Most recently, the company has launched an application called AI Defense, representing an extra layer of security surrounding AI applications to ensure safe deployment.

Cisco turned from siloed technologies to an integrated platform to keep their leadership and to enhance networking and security for seamless AI-powered operations. Patel emphasizes that they build excellent products that customers love, leverage Cisco’s size, all while maintaining the agility of a startup.

Cisco will push the next wave of AI transformation with an strategic acquisitions, and alliances with the industry, thus becoming a key partner for the transformation of business into the new digital age.