At a time when Big Tech majors like Microsoft and Meta are using artificial intelligence (AI) adoption to rationalize workforces, Cisco Systems is taking a different route. Chief executive Chuck Robbins has clarified that the company does not plan to leverage AI to shrink jobs.
In an interview with CNBC, Robbins said Cisco is pursuing a balanced approach, combining human expertise with agentic AI — AI systems capable of independently handling complex tasks with minimal human input. While such technologies have fueled concerns of mass layoffs across the tech and telecom sectors, Robbins stressed that Cisco values its people.
“I don’t want to get rid of a bunch of people right now,” he said, adding that the goal is to empower existing engineers to “innovate faster and be more productive,” which in turn strengthens Cisco’s competitive edge.
Robbins acknowledged, however, that the industry’s trajectory could shift as AI matures. “Most of my peers would suggest that they do expect to be hiring fewer people if we get this right,” he noted, while describing current AI adoption as still “early.”
Meanwhile, Cisco is benefitting from the surge in AI-related spending, particularly from hyperscale and cloud customers such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet. Rather than framing AI as a workforce reduction tool, the company sees it as a productivity enabler and a catalyst for innovation.
Cisco’s stance contrasts with broader industry sentiment, where AI-led automation is raising fears of large-scale redundancies. By emphasizing augmentation over replacement, Cisco is signaling that its near-term strategy is to leverage AI for efficiency gains while protecting jobs, even as long-term implications remain uncertain.
See What’s Next in Tech With the Fast Forward Newsletter
Tweets From @varindiamag
Nothing to see here - yet
When they Tweet, their Tweets will show up here.
