Cisco AI Assistant: Saves Hours, Boosts Productivity

Cisco has developed an in-house AI assistant that saves employees several hours of work each week. This tool helps prevent the use of unauthorized AI by providing a secure alternative. The original idea for an internal assistant started when consumer-grade AI tools launched. Cisco leadership chose to create their own secure option instead of blocking external tools due to data risks. This AI assistant, launched in late 2023, consolidates various AI functions onto one platform. It started with Azure OpenAI and Google Gemini and can now integrate new models quickly. It serves as a combination copilot, coding assistant, and HR assistant. The company states that engineers save an average of six hours per week, and other employees save five hours. The tool also operates at a lower monthly cost per user than many off-the-shelf options. As of the first quarter of 2026, over 96,000 employees were using the tool, showing 90% adoption. Internal polling indicates 79% of employees believe it saves them time, and 72% say it increases productivity. This shows how a company can proactively manage AI risks while boosting efficiency.