Cisco warns AI agents need checks before joining workforces
Human coders will supervise AI-generated code as Cisco reshapes development by combining smaller teams with advanced digital agents.
The US-based conglomerate Cisco is promoting a future in which AI agents work alongside employees rather than operate as mere tools. Jeetu Patel, the company’s president, revealed that Cisco has already produced a product written entirely with AI-generated code and expects several more by the end of 2026.
A shift to spec-driven development that allows smaller human teams to work with digital agents instead of relying on larger groups of developers.
Human oversight will still play a central role. Coders will be asked to review AI-generated outputs as they adjust to a workplace where AI influences every stage of development. Patel argues that AI should be viewed as part of every loop rather than kept at the edge of decision-making.
Security concerns dominate the company’s planning. Patel warns that AI agents acting as digital co-workers must undergo background checks in the same way that employees do.
Cisco is investing billions in security systems to protect agents from external attacks and to prevent agents that malfunction or act independently from harming society.
Looking ahead, Cisco expects AI to deliver insights that extend beyond human knowledge. Patel believes that the most significant gains will emerge from breakthroughs in science, health, energy and poverty reduction rather than simple productivity improvements.
He also positions Cisco as a core provider of infrastructure designed to support the next stage of the AI era.
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