SRMED
Englishعربي
Englishعربي
Cisco says Saudi Arabia’s push into agentic AI will depend less on the size of investment and more on whether companies can build secure, flexible networks and operate them at scale, according to an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat. The company’s message is that AI systems are only as effective as the infrastructure underneath them, making readiness a central issue for businesses and institutions trying to adopt the technology.
That view comes as Zain KSA is moving to deepen its own AI capabilities. The telecom operator announced the creation of an Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence, described as part of its strategy to expand the use of AI applications across its business operations, according to Asharq Al-Awsat and related reporting. The new center is intended to support broader use of AI-powered tools inside the company.
The timing reflects a wider shift in Saudi Arabia’s technology sector, where major companies are racing to convert AI ambitions into practical deployments. Zain KSA’s AI center is expected to help with decision-making, operational performance, and customer-facing services, according to summaries of the announcement. Cisco’s comments suggest that these kinds of initiatives will require more than software and experimentation: they will need networking systems designed to carry heavy AI workloads securely and reliably.
That is why Cisco framed the challenge as one of operational readiness. In its discussion with Asharq Al-Awsat, the company said Saudi Arabia’s success in agentic AI will depend on whether organizations can adapt their networks, processes, and security controls to support AI-driven operations. The emphasis on readiness also points to a practical issue facing enterprises across the region: AI tools can create speed and automation, but they also increase pressure on data infrastructure and cybersecurity.
Recent reporting shows Cisco and Zain KSA are already working in that direction. A separate report said the two companies partnered to advance AI infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, with the agreement aimed at using Cisco’s infrastructure solutions to securely build and scale AI workloads. That partnership fits Cisco’s broader argument that the network is the foundation of AI operations, not a side component.
For Saudi Arabia, the issue matters because AI adoption is increasingly tied to national digital transformation goals and to competition among companies seeking efficiency gains and better customer experience. As firms like Zain KSA establish dedicated AI units, the next phase will likely focus on whether those units can deliver measurable improvements while keeping systems secure, resilient, and scalable.