Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Cisco announced in August 2024 that a restructuring plan would affect about 7% of its global workforce. The company was still highly profitable, but its fiscal 2024 revenue and net income had both fallen from the year before. Cisco said it was restructuring to improve efficiency and invest in growth opportunities; it did not establish that the affected jobs were being replaced by AI.
What Cisco announced
On August 14, 2024, Cisco Systems announced a restructuring plan affecting approximately 7% of its global workforce. SFGATE estimated that this represented at least 5,500 workers, using Cisco’s previously reported workforce size. Cisco estimated up to $1 billion in pre-tax severance and other restructuring charges.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The announced percentage and the 5,500 figure are not the same kind of number: Cisco gave the approximate share of its global workforce, while SFGATE estimated the headcount. The announcement did not provide a complete geographic breakdown or individual severance terms.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
How Cisco could cut jobs while making a profit
Profitability and restructuring can coexist. A company may report a large annual profit while also reducing costs or changing where it directs investment. In Cisco’s case, the relevant financial context was that fiscal 2024 was profitable but weaker than fiscal 2023:
#1 Best Overall
![Arduino® UNO™ Q 4GB [ABX00173]- Hybrid Board, Qualcomm Dragonwing QRB2210 microprocessor (MPU) & STM32U585 Microcontroller(MCU), AI Vision, Voice, IoT, Robotics, Linux Debian OS, Wi-Fi 5, USB-C](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51cl4xygwGL._SL160_.jpg)
- Dual-Brain Hybrid Power: Combines the Qualcomm Dragonwing QRB2210 MPU (Quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 @ 2.0 GHz CPU, Adreno GPU, AI acceleration) and the real-time, low-power STM32U585 MCU for advanced applications like object recognition, voice commands, and motion detection.
- AI & Linux Capabilities: Unlocks AI-powered vision and sound solutions; runs Linux Debian OS for coding in Python and supports the Arduino ecosystem with libraries and Sketches; quick start with Arduino App Lab.
- Advanced Features: Equipped with 4 GB LPDDR4 RAM, 32 GB eMMC built-in storage, ideal for single-board computer (SBC) mode, running multiple simultaneous high-level processes, more complex AI or ML models, extensive logs. Dual-band Wi-Fi 5 (2.4/5 GHz), Bluetooth 5.1, and high-speed headers for vision, audio, and display peripherals.
- Seamless Expansion & Connectivity: Features the classic UNO form factor for shields compatibility, an 8x13 LED matrix, and a Qwiic connector for easy expansion with Modulino nodes; power and connect via the USB-C connector.
- Intended Use & Development: The perfect platform for prototyping robotics or IoT projects, empowering innovators with a unified development experience to mix Arduino Sketches, Python scripts, and containerized AI models in a single interface.
| Measure | Fiscal 2024 | Fiscal 2023 | Year-over-year change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $53.8 billion | $57.0 billion | Down 6% |
| GAAP net income | $10.3 billion | $12.6 billion | Down 18% |
Cisco’s fiscal 2024 ended July 27, 2024. The $10.3 billion figure is GAAP net income for the full fiscal year, not cash set aside for hiring or a measure of how much the company could spend on a specific initiative. The declines help explain why Cisco emphasized efficiency, but the figures alone do not establish the precise reason any individual position was eliminated.
Are the layoffs funding Cisco’s AI investment?
AI was an explicit part of Cisco’s strategy in 2024, alongside cloud and cybersecurity. Cisco spokesperson Robyn Blum said the company was focused on growth, execution and resetting its cost structure “as we invest in AI, cloud, and cybersecurity.” Cisco’s earnings communication likewise described investment in those areas while maintaining capital returns.
Rank #2
- Dual-Brain Hybrid Power: Combines the Qualcomm Dragonwing QRB2210 MPU (Quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 @ 2.0 GHz CPU, Adreno GPU, AI acceleration) and the real-time, low-power STM32U585 MCU for advanced applications like object recognition, voice commands, and motion detection.
- AI & Linux Capabilities: Unlocks AI-powered vision and sound solutions; runs Linux Debian OS for coding in Python and supports the Arduino ecosystem with libraries and Sketches; quick start with Arduino App Lab.
- Advanced Features: Equipped with 2 GB LPDDR4 RAM, 16 GB eMMC built-in storage, ideal to develop in PC-connected mode, running the OS, Python scripts, and basic network services (SSH) without a demanding GUI or heavy multitasking; great for lightweight AI and memory-optimized TinyML applications, needing local storage for basic OS and core libraries. Dual-band Wi-Fi 5 (2.4/5 GHz), Bluetooth 5.1, and high-speed headers for vision, audio, and display peripherals.
- Seamless Expansion & Connectivity: Features the classic UNO form factor for shields compatibility, an 8x13 LED matrix, and a Qwiic connector for easy expansion with Modulino nodes; power and connect via the USB-C connector.
- Intended Use & Development: The perfect platform for prototyping robotics or IoT projects, empowering innovators with a unified development experience to mix Arduino Sketches, Python scripts, and containerized AI models in a single interface.
Cisco also announced a $1 billion global AI investment fund and AI certification initiatives. These announcements show that AI was a strategic priority beyond the layoff announcement. They do not, however, show that the restructuring charges or savings were earmarked for that fund, or that each eliminated role was directly replaced by an AI system. Cisco’s stated rationale combined efficiency with investment in growth opportunities rather than identifying a one-for-one link between specific job cuts and AI spending.
Recommended Free Tools
What the figures do—and do not—show
- Profit: Cisco reported $10.3 billion in GAAP net income for fiscal 2024, while reporting lower revenue and net income than in fiscal 2023.
- Workforce reduction: The company said approximately 7% of its global workforce would be affected; the estimate of at least 5,500 workers came from SFGATE.
- Restructuring cost: Cisco estimated up to $1 billion in pre-tax severance and other restructuring charges. This is an estimate of costs, not a stated amount of savings or an AI budget.
- AI investment: Cisco announced a separate $1 billion global AI investment fund, but the available announcements do not establish that layoff savings funded it.
- Job replacement: The announcements do not show that specific affected positions were automated or taken over by AI.
The most accurate reading is that Cisco was cutting costs and redirecting strategic attention while remaining profitable. AI investment was part of the company’s stated priorities, but the evidence does not support saying that the 5,500 estimated job cuts were directly made to fund AI or that AI replaced those workers.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- 【POWERFUL ESP32‑S3 CONTROLLER】Built‑in Xtensa 32‑bit LX7 dual‑core processor, 512KB SRAM, 8MB PSRAM, 16MB Flash for stable AI voice computing and multitask processing.
- 【Preloaded Dual AI Platforms】Comespre-installed with complete Deepseek and OpenAI voice dialogue projects.Experience intelligent voice interaction instantly. (Note: OpenAI functionality requires your own API key.)
- 【STABLE WIRELESS & CLEAR AUDIO】Integrated 2.4GHz Wi‑Fi + Bluetooth 5 (LE); dedicated audio decoding module for natural, responsive voice interaction.
- 【USER‑FRIENDLY VISUAL & PLUG‑AND‑PLAY】2” TFT‑SPI color screen shows real‑time chat; modular design, no extra wiring, ready to use after setup.
- 【FULL LEARNING SUPPORT】45 programmable GPIOs, rich interfaces, online web tutorials, free technical support for beginners & developers.
Rank #3
- Single core ARM Cortex-A7 32-bit core, integrated with NEON and FPU
- Built in Micro's self-developed 4th generation NPU, with high computational accuracy and support for mixed quantization of int4, int8, and int16. Among them, int8 has a computing power of 0.5 TOPS and int4 has a computing power of up to 1.0 TOPS
- Built in self-developed 3rd generation ISP3.2, supports 4 million pixels, and supports various image enhancement and correction algorithms such as HDR, WDR, and multi-level denoisin
- It has powerful encoding performance, supports intelligent encoding, adapts to save bit rates according to the scene, and saves more than 50% of the bit rate compared to conventional CBR mode, making the captured images high-definition, smaller in size, and doubling the storage space
- The design with built-in RISC-V MCU supports low-power fast startup, 250ms fast capture, and simultaneous loading of AI model library, enabling facial recognition to be completed within 1 second
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
