Companies × risks
Cisco
Cisco provides AI infrastructure through networking, data centre systems, and validated AI architectures (AI PODs, Secure AI Factory). It deploys third-party AI internally (Azure OpenAI, Claude, Gemini) and develops specialised security-focused LLMs and networking language models trained on Cisco expertise.
We reviewed 7 public documents from Cisco and found it acknowledges 6 of 24 AI risks, including AI security vulnerabilities and discrimination.
Sector: Agriculture, Mining, Construction and Manufacturing; Computer & electronics manufacturing
Roles: AI infrastructure provider; AI deployer; Specialized AI developer
AI risks Cisco acknowledges
- AI security vulnerabilities: “AI systems must be resilient and contain protections from malicious actors... Protection against security threats includes testing the resilience of AI systems against cyber-attacks; sharing information about vulnerabilities and cyber-attacks” (Cisco Principles for Responsible Artificial Intelligence)
- Discrimination: “AI creates the potential for harmful human bias or stereotypes to become ingrained in or amplified by technological systems.” (Cisco Principles for Responsible Artificial Intelligence)
- Loss of privacy: “Applications of AI often use personal data that could impact individual privacy and civil liberties if not managed properly.” (Cisco Principles for Responsible Artificial Intelligence)
- Weapons & cyberattacks: “the emergence and maturation of AI capabilities has led to new and/or more effective methods of cyber attacks.” (Cisco 10-K 2025 Annual Report)
- Governance failure: “we may be unsuccessful in identifying or resolving issues and risks before they arise.” (Cisco 10-K 2025 Annual Report)
- Transparency & interpretability: “Often, it is not clear to users when and how AI is used or involved in decision- making.” (Cisco Principles for Responsible Artificial Intelligence)
Documents we reviewed
- Cisco 10-K 2025 Annual Report (Annual report, 2025)
- Cisco Responsible AI - Cisco (AI overview & principles, 2025)
- Cisco AI Transparency Technical Notes (Other, 2024)
- Cisco Principles for Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI overview & principles, 2024)
- The Cisco Responsible AI Framework (AI governance, 2024)
- FY25 Cisco Purpose Report (ESG report, 2025)
- Responsible AI is built on a foundation of privacy - Cisco Blogs (Other, 2023)