Cisco: AI simplifies wireless operations but also taxes legacy Wi-Fi networks

Without a secure, more scalable Wi-Fi backbone, organizations can’t deliver on the opportunities afforded by AI and other technologies, warns Cisco. The vendor just published its inaugural State of Wireless 2026 report, which surveyed more than 6,000 global wireless professionals. IT teams in charge of wireless networks are under pressure to rapidly evolve the infrastructure, driven by issues including the growth of AI and other high-bandwidth applications, an influx of new devices, and a wide range of users and devices, from employees and contractors to autonomous robots and smart sensors. New AI-powered use cases are appearing daily, and IT teams are challenged to deal with rising wireless complexity.