"AI continues to ripple through the corporate world, with bosses eager to boost productivity and workers equally eager for tools that make their jobs easier. But as many AI pilots flop, the demand for employees who can actually apply the technology effectively has never been higher. That's why Cisco is leaning on its workforce rather than cutting it. Unlike peers such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Accenture -who have trimmed staff-Cisco is investing in skilling up the employees it already has."
""I don't want to get rid of a bunch of people right now," CEO Chuck Robbins said to CNBC in August. "I don't want to get rid of engineers. I just want our engineers we have today to innovate faster and be more productive." In practice, that's meant in part giving developers access to AI coding assistants like Cursor, Windsurf, and GitHub Copilot."
"Internally, Cisco leaders are expected to pursue AI learning, in part because employees whose managers use AI are twice as likely to adopt it themselves, Scott McGuckin, Cisco's global head of talent acquisition, told Fortune. And for those who do embrace the technology, the benefits are obvious. "While I haven't placed any mandatory AI training on my immediate team, I highly expect them to be taking advantage of the AI tools and courses available in the company," McGuckin said. "Those who do, show me their creativity, productivity, and strategic thinking.""
Cisco is investing in skilling its current workforce to accelerate innovation and productivity instead of reducing headcount. Developers receive access to AI coding assistants like Cursor, Windsurf, and GitHub Copilot. About 70% of Cisco's 20,000 developers use AI coding tools at least monthly, and nearly a quarter of code is now AI-generated, up from 4% a year ago. Internal leaders are expected to pursue AI learning because employees whose managers use AI are twice as likely to adopt it. Managers encourage voluntary AI training, and adopters demonstrate increased creativity, productivity, and strategic thinking. AI adoption also influences hiring competitiveness.
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