Uwe Peter, head of Cisco in Germany, commented on the study results: “AI is not an experiment, not an end in itself, but the operating system of our economy.”
Cisco/by Pavelbecker
There is currently a paradoxical mix of euphoria and nervousness in boardrooms around the world. According to the Cisco study “How CEOs see AI in 2026,” optimism regarding the potential of artificial intelligence has reached a new high of 91 percent. On the other hand, there are also deep worry lines: 65 percent of CEOs fear investing too little in AI – a significant jump compared to 53 percent in the previous year.
AI is no longer a nice extra. For more than two thirds of those surveyed (69 percent), the technology has already become indispensable. Or as Uwe Peter, head of Cisco in Germany, puts it: “AI is not an experiment, not an end in itself, but the operating system of our economy.” The time for cautious pilot projects is over; The question is no longer whether the technology works, but whether companies are ready for the massive burden it causes.
Needle eye technique
In reality, many AI projects collapse due to the performance of the hardware. 53 percent of CEOs fear infrastructure bottlenecks will slow down their AI plans. Upgrading AI workloads is therefore a top priority for 2026.
