How Cisco is leaning on recruiting and upskilling staff in the AI era—instead of mass layoffs

Core Insights - Cisco is focusing on upskilling its existing workforce rather than reducing staff, contrasting with other tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft that have laid off employees [1][2] - The company is providing its developers with access to AI coding tools, resulting in a significant increase in AI-generated code, which has risen from 4% to nearly 25% in the past year [2] - Cisco's leadership encourages AI learning among employees, as those whose managers utilize AI are more likely to adopt it themselves [3] Workforce Strategy - CEO Chuck Robbins emphasizes the importance of retaining engineers and enhancing their productivity through AI tools [2] - The hiring process is evolving, with a focus on relevant coding and engineering skills, particularly in AI, machine learning, and data science [5] - Cisco is open to hiring entry-level talent without degrees, as demonstrated skills through coursework or projects are often sufficient [6] AI Adoption and Training - Cisco's internal culture promotes the use of AI tools, with expectations for employees to engage with available AI resources [4] - The company views AI adoption as a competitive differentiator in the talent market, despite a general slowdown in hiring across the tech industry [4][5] - Knowledge of responsible AI practices, ethics, and explainability is becoming increasingly important in the hiring process [5]