Cisco warns that Anthropic's Mythos model could force rapid replacement of legacy gear
Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins said the Anthropic-based Mythos tool is prompting customers to retire unsupported networking equipment quickly, boosting the company's sales pipeline.
During Cisco's fourth-quarter earnings call, CEO Chuck Robbins warned that Anthropic's Mythos AI model is exposing vulnerabilities in unsupported networking hardware, leading customers to deem such gear unsafe once patch support ends. He cited anecdotes of manufacturers contacting Cisco early in the Mythos wave to replace equipment past its last day of support, and said the resulting surge in orders is reflected in a noticeably larger sales pipeline.
CFO Mark Patterson confirmed that the company can meet the heightened demand without significant lead-time issues, unlike some rivals. Robbins framed the "Mythos Effect" as one of three drivers of a network-spending supercycle, alongside preparations for quantum-safe networks and the rise of AI workloads. Cisco reported quarterly revenue of $17.3 billion and a 51 percent jump in net income to $3.9 billion, forecasting continued growth in FY27. He also highlighted internal AI initiatives, noting 145,000 support cases resolved entirely by AI and the operation of an in-house assistant called Circuit.
Why it matters
The story shows how AI-driven security tools can accelerate hardware upgrades, reshaping network spending and vendor competition.
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