Cisco: 80% of network pros ready to give AI autonomous role in network operations

A Cisco and Omdia report found that 75% of 1,000 IT and network operations leaders already use AI for network operations, 80% are comfortable granting it a high or fully autonomous role, and 84% expect a fully AI-led operating model within 12 months. However, 99% would only trust AI to act with strict guardrails such as explainability, human approval and audit trails.

• 51% of respondents already use agentic AI tools in production to take real-time corrective action
• 24% are comfortable with AI making network changes without human oversight, 56% only with approval
• The average organization generates about 4,100 alerts per day, and 46% are closed without investigation
• 99% won't trust AI actions without guardrails: audit trails, policy limits and emergency override