By Francisco Velasquez
Publication Date: 2025-12-08 18:42:00
Former Cisco (CSCO) CEO John Chambers wants to put the great AI debate to rest.
“I think 2026 will be a great year for AI,” Chambers told Yahoo Finance’s Opening Bid. “Productivity will grow faster than almost anybody realizes. I think the market is underestimating that on earnings.”
Chambers, who led Cisco through the dot-com boom era and the Great Recession, has dismissed the bubble talk, arguing that AI is a “decade-long phenomenon” that is still in its early innings.
He doubled down on the widespread utility of AI — from retail and automotive to healthcare and government — which are beginning to materialize “rapidly” at companies such as Walmart (WMT) and Ford (F). While use cases vary, both companies are using AI across their supply chains.
Chambers spent over 25 years with Cisco Systems, taking over as CEO in 1995. Cisco is the largest networking company, providing the routers, switches, and hardware that form the backbone of the modern internet.
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