Cisco CEO Warns Employees: Change Will Be Uncomfortable

WHO:

Fast Company - Chuck Robbins is the chairman and CEO of Cisco.

Fast Company - Chuck Robbins has served as chair of the Business Roundtable (BRT) since January 2024.

Fast Company - Jane Fraser is the CEO of Citi.

Fast Company - Ryan McInerney is the CEO of Visa.

WHAT:

Fast Company - Robbins stated that "nothing’s going to feel good now" for employees uncomfortable with change.

Fast Company - More than 100 CEOs attended a Business Roundtable meeting to discuss AI.

Fast Company - Cisco has deployed personalized agent technology for every employee in the company.

Fast Company - Robbins mentioned that AI can enhance innovation rather than just serve as a cost-reduction tool.

WHERE:

Fast Company - The Business Roundtable meeting took place in the United States.

WHEN:

Fast Company - Robbins will relinquish his role as chair of the Business Roundtable at the end of this year.

Fast Company - AI executives began calling for a slowdown in AI development in mid-September.

WHY:

Fast Company - Robbins believes that the pace of change in AI is too fast and dynamic, causing discomfort among employees.

Fast Company - The business community is concerned about keeping up with the rapid advancements in AI technology.

HOW:

Fast Company - Cisco is focusing on providing customers with visibility, security, control, and efficiency to ensure they can deploy AI safely and securely.

(UPDATED September 21, 2026 11:58 UTC)

Chuck Robbins, the chairman and CEO of Cisco, recently emphasized the discomfort many employees feel with the rapid changes brought on by AI, stating that "nothing’s going to feel good now" for those struggling to adapt. At a recent Business Roundtable meeting attended by over 100 CEOs, Robbins highlighted that AI should be seen as a tool for enhancing innovation rather than merely a means of cost reduction, while also announcing he will step down as chair at the end of this year. Cisco is actively working to ensure safe and secure AI deployment by focusing on providing customers with visibility, security, control, and efficiency.