Cisco's CEO: AI is Bigger Than the Internet, Adapt or Fail

Chuck Robbins, CEO of Cisco, has positioned the company at the forefront of artificial intelligence adoption, using the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos as a platform to articulate his vision for AI's transformative impact on global business.

Chuck joined technology leaders in discussions that placed AI development at the centre of corporate strategy, with particular emphasis on the consequences facing organisations that fail to integrate the technology.

Cisco has embedded AI throughout its operations, developing software and infrastructure that supports internet connectivity worldwide. The company deploys services that harness AI capabilities whilst addressing the security challenges the technology introduces.

Chuck's strategy reflects an understanding that AI adoption is not optional for technology sector participants, with market value implications for companies that delay implementation.

Chuck's vision and Cisco's history

Speaking to the BBC in Davos, Chuck told the BBC that AI will be "bigger than the internet", whilst also cautioning that it could spell disaster for companies that fail to adapt. This perspective carries particular significance given Cisco's history.

The company held the position of the world's most valuable in 2000, then experienced an 80% decline in value when tech stocks collapsed during the dot-com bubble burst.

In 2023, Cisco partnered with NVIDIA to deploy AI capabilities and scale its infrastructure accordingly.

Cybersecurity at operational core

Cisco has placed AI at its operational centre, utilising the technology to safeguard applications against AI-scale attacks and detect security vulnerabilities. The company's workplace-focused protection technologies include Cisco AI Defense and Hypershield, both designed to counter emerging threats.

Chuck notes that AI will "make our cyber attacks better" and "make the scams that people see in their inboxes seem more real", highlighting the threat facing individuals globally. This dual-edged nature of AI development forms the foundation of his strategic approach.

As cybercriminals exploit AI advancements to target large-scale enterprises, the severity of potential damage presents significant risks for organisations that lag behind in adoption.

The first predominantly AI-driven cyber attack nearly succeeded when Chinese state-sponsored hackers exploited Anthropic's Claude AI agent, though Anthropic intercepted and halted the intrusion. This incident demonstrates how AI technology has become simultaneously the risk and remedy for cyberattacks.

The approaches taken by Cisco and Anthropic in training their AI systems represent potential pathways to prevent security breaches entirely.

Strategic adoption decisions ahead

For executives, the decision to embrace or reject AI hinges on whether the technology affects their company's market value. Technology companies face significant risk without adoption, whereas established creative companies often receive recognition for maintaining traditional content creation methods.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella addressed the sustainability of AI investment during conversations at Davos. Speaking to Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock and Interim Co-Chair of the WEF, Nadella told his Davos audience: "For this not to be a bubble, by definition it requires that the benefits of this are more easily spread.

"To me, a long term, scalable solution is to have all of these token factories part of the real economy connected to the grid, connected to the telco network – and that's what will drive that scale, whether it's in the Global South or in the developed world."

Chuck's strategy at Cisco demonstrates a clear commitment to AI integration as fundamental to maintaining competitive position. The company's experience navigating previous technology transitions informs its current approach to AI implementation.

The broader technology sector continues to evaluate the balance between AI investment and practical returns. Companies must weigh infrastructure costs against competitive advantages whilst addressing security implications.