Cisco Research: Trust, Not Technology, Is Now the Speed Limit on Enterprise AI
A new Cisco report identifies trust as the primary barrier to scaling enterprise AI, recommending that IT leaders track user override rates of AI outputs rather than simple login counts to measure genuine adoption.
At Cisco Live APJC in Melbourne on November 9, 2026, Cisco Systems Inc. released a new research report titled "Permission to Scale: The Critical Role of Trust in Successful AI Adoption." Authored by independent researcher Brad Howarth, the study draws on data from 25 Australian organizations.
The core finding is that while the conversation about enterprise artificial intelligence has long focused on capability—which model is smartest or which GPU is fastest—this constraint has shifted. AI can now do far more than most organizations will allow, and the gap is trust.
Carl Solder, CTO of Cisco ANZ, noted that CIOs and CTOs often gravitate toward infrastructure and data, neglecting the culture pillar. He described a customer who invested heavily in technology but ignored culture, resulting in significant pushback from employees and customers against the toolsets.
The report introduces the concept of "calibrated trust," where users know when to rely on AI, when to verify outputs, and when a human must decide. Anna Tosky, Chief People Officer at Elmo Software, highlighted the risk of "AI slop," where employees send unchecked, erroneous AI-generated reports.
To address this, the report recommends a specific practice for IT leaders: stop treating log-ins as a proxy for trust and instead track how often people challenge or override AI outputs. Usage shows people are clicking; override rates show they are thinking. Leadership buy-in is also crucial, exemplified by Flight Center Travel Group's founder using AI daily to give staff permission to experiment.
Although the sample size is small, the findings align with broader industry discussions, suggesting that the biggest barrier to scaling AI is not technical but people-related.