AI Adoption Surges, Straining Networks and Creating Security Concerns
A new report from Cisco reveals the extent to which artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming networks and infrastructure. According to the study, AI is already ubiquitous, with 100% of organizations adopting or planning to invest in it.
Half of companies are using generative AI broadly, while one in three are already employing agentic AI. The report highlights various applications of AI, including monitoring cybersecurity (63%), researching and analyzing data (63%), writing and testing code (82%), supporting business processes (61%), creating campaigns (60%), supporting customers (63%), managing robots (53%), performing admin tasks (76%), and testing products (60%).
However, the increasing use of AI is putting a strain on networks. The report notes that 1/3+ of global AI traffic is driven by generative AI, with one in two respondents already seeing AI impact performance in their workplace Wi-Fi. Moreover, 100% of companies have experienced at least one AI-related downtime incident.
The study also predicts a 3x increase in workplace network traffic as AI scales over the next three years. This is due to agentic AI transforming network traffic, with up to 450% more traffic generated by AI agents performing tasks instead of people.
Furthermore, the report highlights new security blind spots created by AI. According to the study, 77% of networking leaders say AI has expanded their attack surface, and 9 in 10 report needing to rethink their network security. Two-thirds of companies have found blind spots in their networks.
On a more positive note, the report suggests that companies that innovate are more stable and secure. Those that do so experience a 25% reduction in major incidents, including disruptions to productivity and services, as well as a 45% faster mean time to restore with dramatically improved critical service recovery.