At Cisco Tech Comms, we are harnessing the power of AI to revolutionize our content ecosystem, ensuring it is unified, validated, and designed to enhance product adoption. As a Senior Director, I lead Cisco Validated Designs (CVD) and the Product Content Strategy and Design organization, focused on providing reliable resources to IT architects and engineers managing complex infrastructures.

Embracing AI has transformed our approach to content creation and management. Rather than fearing the shift brought by AI, we have chosen to embrace and define it. Our commitment to AI as a collaborative tool has redefined how we think, write, and deliver content. The core belief is that writers who effectively leverage AI will shape the future of content strategy.

Our team has undergone rigorous AI training, adopted enterprise-ready AI tools, and created scalable prompt libraries, significantly enhancing the speed, clarity, consistency, and SEO of our content. This proactive approach allowed us to effectively address initial skepticism about integrating new skills into ongoing projects. Building a dedicated GenAI core team with specialists from various fields has been crucial in fostering collaboration and facilitating learning through training programs such as GenAI Fundamentals.

One of the standout applications of AI is in optimizing content accessibility on Cisco.com, our high-traffic digital platform. AI-driven content discovery tools have improved user experience by enabling quicker, more intuitive access to information. This innovation not only enhances customer satisfaction but also reduces operational costs by streamlining information delivery.

We welcome those interested in shaping innovative product content and AI-enhanced experiences to join us on this journey, as every contribution plays a significant role in driving future success.

By Luke Elder | Senior Lead, Sustainability Reporting
Dec 15, 2025
We’re excited to announce the release of our AI playbook aimed at enhancing sustainability reporting.

This playbook serves as a practical toolkit for organizations seeking to streamline their sustainability reporting through the effective application of AI. Corporate transparency is vital, yet many organizations struggle with fragmented data and cumbersome processes, which detract from their ability to focus on meaningful progress. After successfully integrating AI into our environmental reporting for two years, we are now sharing our insights to help others overcome these challenges.

The AI Playbook for Sustainability Reporting provides a systematic framework to audit current practices and includes "starter pack" templates for common reporting tasks. Concrete applications of AI, such as using tools like Gemini for data analysis and NotebookLM for automating inquiries, demonstrate how organizations can validate their claims and enhance their responsiveness. These tools simplify the data management process, enabling teams to shift from data collection to strategic decision-making more efficiently.

Explore the playbook today, and we welcome any feedback to further its effectiveness in driving sustainable practices across various sectors.

AI is revolutionizing social media branding by streamlining connections with audiences through various innovative tools. These AI-driven marketing solutions enhance content analysis, scheduling, and advertising efforts, enabling teams to focus on strategy and engagement—ultimately leading to improved outcomes and time savings. By leveraging real-time data, marketers can create timely posts and make informed decisions, resulting in a competitive edge.

Current AI applications in social media include dynamic ad builders that optimize advertising setups, automated publishing that ensures content is shared at peak engagement times, and video enhancement tools that reduce editing time. Additionally, AI algorithms prioritize social media interactions, enabling brands to respond swiftly to customer inquiries, significantly improving brand loyalty as consumers increasingly expect timely replies.

AI also helps brands dissect competitive landscapes, uncover consumer sentiments, and spot emerging market trends through advanced social listening tools. This real-time analysis empowers marketers to adapt strategies proactively and make data-driven decisions.

Looking ahead, AI will further personalize social media experiences through machine learning, tailoring content and ads based on user behavior. Safety and moderation will receive a boost through sophisticated natural language processing (NLP) algorithms that efficiently identify and manage harmful content.

To effectively harness AI for social media, brands should consider its integration capabilities, analytics robustness, content automation, personalization features, sentiment analysis, and customer care functionalities. Leading platforms like Sprout Social and tools such as Brandwatch and Feedhive illustrate the tangible benefits of AI in creating a more engaging and responsive social media landscape.

YouTube has introduced a “likeness detection” tool, designed to help creators protect their biometric likeness from unauthorized use in AI-generated videos. As AI-generated content proliferates, especially deepfakes, this tool plays a crucial role for creators, allowing them to flag instances where their face has been manipulated in videos without consent. Necessary to utilize this tool are a government ID and a biometric video, though concerns have been raised about how this data could potentially be used for training Google’s AI models based on the platform’s existing privacy policy.

The application of this tool offers significant benefits, enabling millions of YouTube creators to safeguard their identities, thereby maintaining trust with their audience. For example, creator Mikhail Varshavski, known as Doctor Mike, has faced deepfake videos impersonating him, which risk spreading false medical advice. By utilizing YouTube's likeness detection tool, he can better manage the usage of his likeness and respond to potentially damaging content.

Moreover, third-party companies like Vermillio and Loti are emerging to assist creators and celebrities in monitoring their likeness rights, underscoring the strategic value of likeness in the AI era. Discussions are in progress at YouTube to enhance clarity in their policies regarding biometric data and explore potential compensation models for creators whose likeness is utilized by external AI entities.

As AI video tools advance, YouTube's initiatives show promise in protecting creators’ rights, recognizing their likenesses as valuable assets, and potentially reshaping how content is monetized and protected in the digital landscape.