Cisco plans to merge its standalone CAIO role back into core IT

The traditional skills that defined IT leadership, such as application integration and user experience fluency, are giving way to new priorities as AI agents connect directly to data sources. [1] Thimaya Subaiya, who oversees IT at Cisco, noted that the ideal candidate for a modern CIO position might not possess a traditional IT background. [1] Subaiya is currently leading a CIO search for the company and observed that the role has completely changed due to artificial intelligence. [1]

Two and a half years ago, Subaiya consolidated AI initiatives from across Cisco and appointed a Chief AI Officer to focus exclusively on AI governance and execution. [1] The CAIO group acts as an internal testbed for new ideas, allowing the company to develop an AI framework for MCP connectors. [1] Although the AI leadership was separated to provide a boost in the space, Subaiya stated that the CAIO role will eventually merge back into IT. [1]

Cisco’s strategy of spinning out a dedicated CAIO role only to plan its eventual reabsorption into IT suggests that standalone AI leadership may be a transitional phase for enterprises. As the skills required for the CIO role shift away from traditional application integration toward strategic business questioning, the line between IT and AI governance is dissolving. Cisco's approach frames AI as an accelerant that must ultimately live within core IT operations, rather than remaining an isolated pillar. What the sources don't address: How the specific responsibilities and budget of the CAIO group will be distributed once the role is formally merged back into the broader IT organization.