Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews) John Chambers: Former Cisco CEO on Why AI Will Move 5x Faster Than the Internet
Oct 10, 2025
John Chambers, the former CEO of Cisco and now founder of JC2 Ventures, shares insights on why AI is advancing five times faster than the internet. He discusses the urgency for leaders to embrace AI or risk being left behind, noting that 60-70% of Fortune 500 companies could vanish without adaptation. Chambers reveals how La Poste retrained 220,000 workers and emphasizes the importance of M&A in AI strategies. He highlights the U.S.-India innovation corridor and stresses that cybersecurity must evolve with AI to combat emerging threats like deepfakes.
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AI Is Faster And Bigger Than The Internet
- AI will change work and life faster and bigger than the internet, delivering 3–5x the outcome and 5x the speed.
- John Chambers says startups now go from prototype to $5M ARR in ~18 months instead of years.
CEO Ownership Is Nonnegotiable
- CEOs must own AI strategy, fund it, and lead by example across the company.
- Move quickly or be disrupted; Chambers warns 60–70% of Fortune 500 may disappear if they fail to act.
Failures Often Reflect Poor Execution
- Many AI proofs fail from poor ownership, missing fit in strategy, and underfunding rather than bad tech.
- Successful projects have clear goals, timelines, and executive commitment.