Cisco has outlined a comprehensive people-first AI strategy that positions workforce transformation as central to its technological deployment. According to Today reports, Mary de Wysocki, SVP and Chief Learning & Future Readiness Officer at Cisco, emphasized that "AI will reshape work and the workforce, just as every major technological shift has before." The company's approach focuses on building AI literacy, maintaining human oversight over decision-making, and creating a culture of continuous learning. As Austin Roth-Eagle, who oversees the AI Acceleration Office for Cisco Global Communications, explained, "We're building AI systems with human oversight at the forefront. The goal is not to build AI systems that don't require humans, but to build AI systems that maximize our productivity and impact." Fran Katsoudas, EVP and People, Policy & Purpose Officer, reinforced this philosophy, stating that "At Cisco, we see AI as a team sport. If we do it right, we don't lose connection. Instead, we elevate what is deeply human about work."
Major IT companies are implementing comprehensive changes to their employee learning platforms as artificial intelligence reshapes workforce development strategies. According to reports from Moneycontrol, Cognizant and UST have introduced enterprise learning platform Percipio as part of a broader overhaul of their employee learning ecosystems. The changes reflect how technology companies are redesigning upskilling programmes to prepare their workforce for the AI era, with companies moving away from single content providers to build integrated learning ecosystems.
The platform changes come weeks after Moneycontrol exclusively reported on May 22 that Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) had deferred parts of its internal Wings upskilling and assessment programme. As reported by Moneycontrol, TCS stated it was reorienting the initiative in line with its AI-first strategy. This development highlights how even established upskilling programmes are being reassessed to align with evolving AI requirements across the IT sector.
According to Today reports, Cisco has implemented AI literacy courses, live learning labs and role-based training modules designed to help employees understand how AI tools can be used in day-to-day work. The company offers access to third-party courses alongside internal programmes to cover both technical use and judgement around where AI fits into existing roles. Marci Paino, Chief Learning Officer at Cisco, emphasized that "A big part of addressing anxiety is building a culture of trust and transparency," with clear communication about how data is used and employee expectations for AI integration. The company has rolled out foundational AI literacy courses tailored to specific roles and live learning labs where employees can apply new skills to real-world challenges. As Paino explained, "Freedom is built into the workday. And valuable ideas arise from it."
As reported by Moneycontrol, companies are building learning ecosystems that combine content libraries, skills assessments, certifications, and personalised learning paths to meet rapidly evolving business requirements. UST has introduced Percipio alongside Udemy to expand learning opportunities for employees, with the company noting that while Udemy has primarily been used to support AI enablement, Percipio enables broader access to learning resources. According to Today reports, Cisco's leadership has framed the transition as a workforce issue as much as a technology one, with an emphasis on building AI literacy and maintaining human oversight over decision-making and output. Guy Diedrich, Cisco's SVP and chief innovation officer, stressed that "The better way of saying AI-first, would be saying agile-first, because that's what you're going to have to be as an organization moving forward."
According to Moneycontrol reports, the revamp comes at a time when generative AI is rapidly changing the skills expected of technology professionals, forcing companies to update learning content more frequently. Industry experts indicate that enterprises are increasingly evaluating learning platforms on parameters such as skills intelligence, personalised learning, role-based recommendations and measurable business outcomes rather than course catalogue size alone. As noted by Jayanth Neelakanta, founder and CEO of Equip, enterprises should prioritise platforms that make learning engaging rather than mandatory, using features such as gamification, personalised learning paths, and clear incentives by linking upskilling to career progression and rewards. According to Today reports, Jeetu Patel, president and chief product officer at Cisco, highlighted that "AI agents aren't just making existing work faster; they're a new workforce of co-workers that dramatically expand what organizations can accomplish." Paino emphasized that "Our goal is not to replace human potential with AI, but to unlock more of it."
