97% of CEOs plan to integrate AI, but only 1.7% feel fully prepared. New research strengths What bothers progress – and how CEOs plan to transfer ambition to action.
Summary of news:
- While 4 out of 5 CEOs recognize the potential of AI, many shortcomings in their understanding will have an impact on strategic decisions, risk risking missed opportunities and delayed on competitors.
- More than 70% fear losing ground due to shortcomings in computer knowledge or network infrastructure, more than half, with competitive losses in underinvestment in technology.
- The CEOs plan to stay ahead by investing in their people, modernizing infrastructure and strengthening cybersecurity, with 96% based on trusted partners in their network to unravel in the future for AI.
Amsterdam,, February 10, 2025 / Prnewswire / – Cisco Live – A new Cisco study, the world leader in networking and security, reveals a paradox among CEOs while 4 out of 5 recognize the potential advantages of AI and almost all plan to integrate AI into their operations , many gaps in fear in their knowledge will hinder decisions in the conference room (74%) and stifling growth (58%) – risking missed opportunities and delaying competitors. However, CEOs are not motionless. With the support of their computer leaders and their trust partners, they plan to empower their people, modernize infrastructure and strengthen cybersecurity to refine their competitive advantage in the AI future.
The Cisco product manager, Jeetu Patelunderlines the urgency to act: “In a dynamic landscape where competition is fierce, the speed decides by winners. The managers who act decisively today to build resilient networks to the test of future will be the leaders of The IA-Forward leads a real value for their business.
CEOs fear inaction mounting costs
Cisco’s research shows that more than 70% of CEOs are concerned with losing ground because of competitors and lacking opportunities because of its gaps and gaps in infrastructure – fears that already result in real losses. More than half of the CEOs (53%) fear that a lack of investment in technology costs them a competitive advantage, while two -thirds are concerned about the costs of opportunity not to invest more in technology. The costs of inaction are not hypothetical scenarios. If they do not invest in technology now, CEOs expect higher operating costs, lower profits, reduction in productivity and the decrease in market share.
The daring act while others are late
For the leaders who confront their fears, the awards will simply transcend themselves “maintain”. CEOs turn to AI for its transformer potential: driving efficiency (69%), stimulating innovation (68%) and overcoming competitors (54%). But the realization of this ambition requires that the CEOs decompose the barriers which prevent them from carrying out the potential of AI: shortages of skills, gaps in infrastructure and safety risks (Figure 1).
While CEOs focus on the situation as a whole, their CIOs and CTOS are often struggling with operational obstacles, including the lack of convincing commercial use – a CEO challenge is below (Figure 1). This tension perhaps reflects the exploratory phase of the AI, where the 82% of CEOs which recognize the potential advantages of AI must support daring in the short term to discover the long-term value.
Oliver Tuszik, president of Cisco Emea, highlights the opportunity: “entire companies will be revolutionized if they can unlock the potential of AI to innovate more quickly, simplify their operations and resist digital disturbances. But no one can Do it alone.
CEO’s plan: people, infrastructure and cybersecurity
Cisco’s research reveals that the CEO’s plan to transform fear into progress – invest in knowledge and skills, upgrading of infrastructure and improving security to prepare AI requests (Figure 2) .
The delivery of this plan will require decisive technological leadership both within the organization and thanks to trust partnerships. CEOs are looking more and more towards their CTOs and DSIs, almost 80% recognizing their vital role in the orientation of businesses and investment decisions. Increasingly, technology leaders are business leaders who see modern networks and technologies not only as tools, but as catalysts for growth, resilience and innovation.
The CEOs know that they cannot deliver their plan without expert support: 96% turn to trust partnerships for their network to the test of future for AI. With daring technological leadership inside and beyond their organizations, CEOs have the expertise to navigate in uncertainties and translate the potential of AI into tangible results.
Cisco continues to help organizations overcome complexity and create opportunities at the time of AI
Slipping skills, implementation challenges, infrastructure ready for AI and cybersecurity are the main concerns for IT teams and managers in all industries. Cisco’s upcoming announcements aim to take up these challenges: fill the gaps between security and networking for AI data centers, empowerment of service providers with new income generating tools and equipping the next generation of IA-Forward professionals with improved certifications.
Download the protruding facts of Cisco CEO feltRch here
The CEO study, conducted by Opinion Matters (December 24, 2024-2 January 2025), interviewed 2,503 CEOs of companies with more than 250 employees worldwide. An additional study with 8,065 senior networking managers will follow in the coming months, exploring the strategic and operational needs for networking and safety of the AI.
Additional resources:
- Cisco AI 2025 briefing: Edition of the CEO – Essential Insight on fears, ambitions and action of CEOs on AI and secure networks
- Press release: Cisco reveals the defense of AI to secure the transformation of the AI of companies
- Blog: Protect AI so that AI can improve the world, safely
About Cisco
Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO) is the world technological leader who revolutionizes the way organizations connect and protect at the time of AI. For over 40 years, Cisco has linked the world safely. With its industry at the head of solutions and services supplied by AI, Cisco allows its customers, partners and communities to unlock innovation, improve productivity and strengthen digital resilience. With a goal at the base, Cisco remains determined to create a more connected and inclusive future for all. Discover more about The editorial room.
Cisco and the Cisco logo are marks or registered trademarks of Cisco and / or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. A list of cisco brands can be found at http://www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. The third -party marks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word “partner” does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.
Source Cisco Systems, Inc.
