Cisco Report: 61% of Industrial Firms Use AI Live, 98% Cite Security
Cisco’s annual State of Industrial AI Report finds that 61% of industrial firms now deploy AI in live operations, with 20% achieving scaled, mature applications and 83% planning further AI investment. Ninety-seven percent anticipate AI workloads will reshape network requirements, and 98% cite cybersecurity as foundational for AI-ready infrastructure.
1. AI Adoption Levels
The State of Industrial AI Report reveals that 61% of industrial organizations have active AI deployments in live operations, with 20% reporting scaled, mature implementations. Key use cases include process automation, automated quality inspection, predictive maintenance, logistics optimization and energy forecasting.
2. Infrastructure and Security Gaps
Respondents identify network readiness and cybersecurity posture as primary constraints to scaling AI in physical environments. Ninety-seven percent expect AI workloads to impact network requirements, 51% foresee increased connectivity demands, while 98% view cybersecurity as foundational and 40% cite it as the biggest obstacle.
3. Importance of IT/OT Collaboration
Close IT/OT collaboration correlates with higher confidence in expanding AI, more stable network infrastructure and stronger cybersecurity emphasis. Fifty-seven percent report some level of IT/OT cooperation, while 47% of those with limited collaboration highlight network instability as a key barrier to scaling AI.