Cisco Research: Industrial AI Moves into Physical Operations, Readiness Gaps Determine Scale

07.04.2026

News Summary

  • Two‑thirds of industrial organizations have moved to active AI deployments in live operational environments.
  • Network readiness and security posture are cited as the primary factors shaping how quickly and safely organizations scale AI across connected assets, machines, and sites.
  • Strong IT/OT collaboration correlates with greater confidence in scaling AI, more stable network infrastructure, and stronger emphasis on cybersecurity.

SAN JOSE, Calif., April 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) today announced the release of its latest annual industrial research report, the State of Industrial AI Report, examining how critical infrastructure like factories, utilities, and transportation systems are accelerating their direct deployments of AI. The report provides a data‑driven view into how industrial organizations are adopting AI, the challenges they face as AI moves into live operations, and the opportunities created as AI becomes embedded in physical systems, infrastructure, and workflows.

Cisco logo

The double-blind global study surveyed more than 1,000 operational technology (OT) decision‑makers across 19 countries and 21 industrial sectors. The findings show that AI is now delivering measurable operational benefits in use cases such as process automation, automated quality inspection, predictive maintenance, logistics, and energy forecasting. However, many organizations are increasingly constrained by readiness gaps in networking infrastructure, cybersecurity, and IT/OT operating models as AI shifts into real‑time, production‑grade use in physical environments.

"Industrial AI is moving from experimentation into production, where AI systems sense, reason, and act in the real world," said Vikas Butaney, SVP/GM of Secure Routing and Industrial IoT at Cisco. "At this stage, success is no longer determined by models alone, but by whether networks, security, and teams are ready to support AI at the edge, in motion, and at scale. The research shows that organizations confident in scaling AI are those treating infrastructure, cybersecurity, and IT/OT collaboration as foundational, not optional."

Key Takeaways from the State of Industrial AI Report

The survey shows industrial AI has moved from a future consideration to active deployment, with 61% of organizations now using AI in live industrial operations where performance, reliability, and security have direct physical consequences, and 20% reporting scaled, mature deployments. Across manufacturing, transportation, and utilities, AI is powering machine vision, robotics, mobility, and safety‑critical operations. Most organizations plan to increase AI spending (83%), and nearly nine in ten expect meaningful outcomes within the next two years (87%). Yet as adoption accelerates, many are struggling to sustain and expand deployments, with readiness across network infrastructure, security, and skills increasingly determining whether AI can scale consistently across core physical environments.

  • Infrastructure readiness is emerging as a primary determinant of scale. As AI becomes embedded in machines, sensors, vision systems, and autonomous operations, organizations face rising demands for reliable connectivity, wireless mobility, predictable latency, edge compute, and power, making network readiness a gating factor for physical AI deployments.
    • 97% expect AI workloads to impact their industrial network requirements
    • 51% of organizations expect AI workloads to increase connectivity and reliability requirements in their industrial networks
    • 96% say wireless networking is essential to enabling AI
  • Cybersecurity is shaping both the pace and confidence of AI adoption. As AI expands connectivity and data flows across industrial environments, security remains the top barrier to scale. At the same time, organizations increasingly view AI as part of the solution, with a majority expecting AI to strengthen monitoring, detection, and operational resilience.
    • 98% say cybersecurity is foundational for AI-ready infrastructure
    • 40% cite cybersecurity as the biggest obstacle to scaling AI
    • 85% expect AI to improve their cybersecurity posture
  • IT/OT collaboration is proving critical to operationalizing AI at scale. Organizations with closer collaboration between IT and operational teams report greater confidence in expanding AI, more stable networks supporting physical operations, and a stronger emphasis on cybersecurity as a baseline requirement, underscoring the need to build the skills required for scalable AI adoption.
    • 57% report some level of IT/OT collaboration
    • 43% report limited or no collaboration
    • 47% of organizations with limited IT/OT collaboration cite network instability as a top operational challenge to scale AI

Background:

  • The State of Industrial AI Report is based on data from a global survey of more than 1,000 operational technology decision‑makers, conducted by Cisco in association with Sapio Research.
  • Survey respondents were from 19 countries and across 21 industry sectors, representing a range of industries including manufacturing, transportation/logistics, energy/utilities and more.
  • The report aggregates findings from decision-makers at companies with annual revenues of more than $100 million.

Additional Resources:

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that is revolutionizing the way organizations connect and protect in the AI era. For more than 40 years, Cisco has securely connected the world. With its industry leading AI-powered solutions and services, Cisco enables its customers, partners and communities to unlock innovation, enhance productivity and strengthen digital resilience. With purpose at its core, Cisco remains committed to creating a more connected and inclusive future for all. Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on X at @Cisco.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at http://www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word 'partner' does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. 

Disclaimer: Many of the products and features mentioned are still in development and will be made available as they are finalized, subject to ongoing evolution in development and innovation. The timeline for their release is subject to change. 

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2808325/Cisco_Logo.jpg

Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cisco-research-industrial-ai-moves-into-physical-operations-readiness-gaps-determine-scale-302735314.html

Other news

Fester Rückenwind für UBS: Hoher Neugeldzufluss und starke Handelsresultate

30.04.2026

UBS ist mit einem kräftigen Gewinnsprung ins Jahr gestartet und bereitet ihre Aktionäre auf größere Kapitalrückflüsse vor. Der Konzern erzielte im ersten Quartal einen Nettogewinn von 3,04 Milliarden US-Dollar, rund 80 Prozent mehr als im Vorjahr und deutlich über den Markterwartungen. Der Vorsteuergewinn lag bei 3,84 Milliarden Dollar; bereinigt um Integrationskosten spricht die Bank von 3,99 Milliarden Dollar, ein Plus von 54 Prozent. Die Erträge stiegen um 13 Prozent auf 14,24 Milliarden Dollar, während der Aufwand mit 10,33 Milliarden nahezu stabil blieb. Das bereinigte Kosten-Ertrags-Verhältnis verbesserte sich damit deutlich auf 70,2 Prozent.

Rückenwind kam vor allem aus dem Investmentbanking: Die Sparte steigerte ihre Erlöse im Quartal um nahezu 30 Prozent, getragen von hoher Marktvolatilität und einem schwächeren US-Dollar. Besonders im Fixed-Income-Geschäft legte UBS zu. Die Einnahmen aus dem festen Einkommen, Devisen und Rohstoffen erhöhten sich im Jahresvergleich um 38 Prozent – ein Wert, der deutlich über den Zuwächsen wichtiger Wettbewerber liegt. Das Management verweist dabei vor allem auf starke Beiträge aus dem Devisenhandel, der den Großteil des Anstiegs ausgemacht habe. Auch im Geschäft mit Edelmetallen soll das erste Quartal sehr robust verlaufen sein.

Im Kerngeschäft der globalen Vermögensverwaltung verzeichnete UBS einen Neugeldzufluss von 37 Milliarden Dollar. Trotz der Zuflüsse sanken die verwalteten Vermögen per Ende März auf 6,881 Billionen Dollar von 7,005 Billionen Ende Dezember, was die Bank mit rückläufigen Märkten und Wechselkurseffekten begründet. Für das zweite Quartal rechnet UBS damit, dass die Zinsmargen in der Vermögensverwaltung und im Privatkundengeschäft im Vergleich zum Vorquartal weitgehend stabil bleiben. Die Bank verweist zudem auf eine weiterhin „gesunde“ Kundenaktivität, gestützt auf die Erwartung einer Entspannung geopolitischer Risiken.

Gleichzeitig treibt UBS die Integration der übernommenen Credit Suisse voran. Im Berichtsquartal erzielte die Bank zusätzliche Kosteneinsparungen von rund 0,8 Milliarden Dollar und summiert seit Beginn der Restrukturierung nun 11,5 Milliarden Dollar an Einschnitten. Bis Ende des Jahres sollen die jährlichen Kosten im Vergleich zu 2022 um insgesamt 13,5 Milliarden Dollar reduziert sein. Parallel bestätigt UBS die Absicht, ihr Aktienrückkaufprogramm auszuweiten: Die bisherigen Rückkäufe von 3 Milliarden Dollar sollen bis Jahresende übertroffen werden, auch wenn das Management vor dem Hintergrund regulatorischer Diskussionen betont, bei Ausschüttungen vorsichtig zu agieren.

Für Spannung sorgt dabei vor allem ein vom Bundesrat vorgelegter Entwurf zu strengeren Eigenmittelanforderungen. Demnach müsste UBS das Kapital in ausländischen Tochtergesellschaften vollständig vom Kapital der Muttergesellschaft abziehen. Nach Berechnungen der Bank würden sich die Anforderungen um rund 20 Milliarden Dollar erhöhen. Führungskräfte haben das Paket als „extrem“ bezeichnet und warnen vor möglichen negativen Folgen für die Schweizer Volkswirtschaft. Offiziell will sich UBS „konstruktiv“ in den anstehenden parlamentarischen Prozess einbringen und nach eigenen Angaben zu einer „faktenbasierten Debatte“ beitragen, während sie zugleich versucht, Investoren mit höheren Rückkäufen und anhaltender Ergebnisstärke zu überzeugen.