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IBM launches new integration to assist unify AI safety and governance

Software Development

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18 June 2025

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IBM launches new integration to assist unify AI safety and governance

IBM is saying new capabilities to assist firms unify their safety and governance methods for his or her AI brokers.

“AI brokers are set to revolutionize enterprise productiveness, however the very advantages of AI brokers may also current a problem,” mentioned Ritika Gunnar, basic supervisor of knowledge and AI at IBM. “When these autonomous methods aren’t correctly ruled or secured, they’ll carry steep penalties.”

It’s integrating its watsonx.governance and Guardium AI safety options in order that firms can handle each from a single instrument. The built-in answer will be capable of validate in opposition to 12 completely different compliance frameworks, together with the EU AI Act and ISO 42001.

Guardium AI Safety is being up to date to have the ability to detect new AI use instances in cloud environments, code repositories, and embedded methods. Then, it might routinely set off the suitable governance workflows from watsonx.governance.

The corporate mentioned that latest updates to Guardium AI Safety will start rolling out by way of the brand new integration later this 12 months, together with automated purple teaming to detect and repair vulnerabilities and misconfigurations and the power to outline customized safety insurance policies that analyze enter and output prompts.

Moreover, watsonx.governance now consists of the power to construct analysis nodes into brokers in order that customers can monitor metrics equivalent to reply relevance, context relevance, and faithfulness. Some upcoming capabilities that might be obtainable on June 27 embrace agent onboarding danger evaluation, agent audit trails, and an agentic instrument catalogue.

“Right this moment’s new capabilities and integrations give companies the excellent governance and safety they should thrive within the agentic AI period. The improvements additionally dovetail with IBM’s broader suite of IBM watsonx AI options, constructed to assist firms speed up the affect of generative AI, responsibly and securely,” the corporate wrote in an announcement.

Management By means of Giving: How the Americas Associate Group is giving Again

Computer Networking

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18 June 2025

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Management By means of Giving: How the Americas Associate Group is giving Again

At Cisco, giving again is greater than a core worth; it’s a approach to lead by constructing connections, deepening empathy, and contributing to one thing greater than your self. Throughout the Americas (North, Central, and South America), and in collaboration with regional worker engagement champions, annually we host our Americas Associate Group (APO) Giving Again Week.

Launched in June 2023, this program brings collectively Cisco Associate Group groups across the Americas to collectively give again and make a distinction. We prolong and amplify our optimistic impression by together with our channel companions within the efforts. One stellar instance of those efforts comes from our staff in Mexico. Learn on to study extra.

The Mexico Associate Group Units a Normal

Inside Cisco’s LATAM area, the Mexico Associate Group is a shining instance in terms of group impression efforts. In mid-2024, the staff, led by undertaking supervisor Jennifer Ortiz, collaborated with our enterprise companions Connext and Evox to create actual impression for La Cana, a social enterprise that helps incarcerated girls and people transitioning again into society.

Why La Cana? Jennifer explains, “We needed to accomplice with a corporation the place our help can be significant. In Mexico, my residence nation, the subject of girls in jail is considerably taboo, and organizations that assist incarcerated girls are likely to get ignored. With doubtlessly much less visibility than different forms of organizations, we felt that La Cana may drastically profit from our volunteerism and assist.”

In flip, 30 volunteers—18 from our companions and 12 from the LATAM Mexico Associate Group—got down to ship significant change amongst La Cana’s purchasers by means of three impactful initiatives.

Supporting Girls in Chalco Jail

On Could 10, 2024 (Mom’s Day in Mexico), our volunteers visited 75 girls at Chalco girls’s jail, bringing hygiene kits and—equally (if no more) necessary—moments of connection and dignity. The staff selected this location as a result of it was farther from town, and on common, its inmates obtain fewer guests. “I had by no means been to a penitentiary, so I used to be very apprehensive,” shared Jennifer. “I didn’t know what to anticipate however interacting with the ladies was an excellent lesson in empathy and perspective. We didn’t see them for his or her alleged crimes, however as fellow people. It was a robust studying second for me.”

Jennifer additionally shared how fantastic it was to convey happiness to the ladies. “Though we weren’t household, these girls have been extraordinarily grateful to have us as guests. You may see the enjoyment and hope it introduced them, as smiles on their faces.”

Constructing power and self-sufficiency within the “Casa Medio Camino” Upon launch from jail, some girls don’t have household to return to or a spot to remain, as they’re usually disowned or ostracized for his or her crimes. To assist mitigate this state of affairs, La Cana has established “Casa Medio Camino”, a midway home for girls leaving jail, to offer shelter and assist. As a part of APO Giving Again Week 2024, our volunteers rolled up their sleeves to assist create a cushty place for the residents. Collectively, they:

Established a group backyard and donated seeds to assist long-term meals cultivation.
Renovated a number of areas throughout the constructing to create welcoming, useful areas.
Donated non-perishable provides to help in briefly housing 20 girls as they transition again into society.

Enabling Financial Independence

One other facet of La Cana’s intervention program is to convey productive actions and vocational coaching to prisons. This allows inmates to accumulate abilities and instruments to assist them enhance their lives throughout their keep in jail, present an earnings for his or her households, and put together them for all times outdoors of jail. One kind of abilities coaching consists of numerous weaving, embroidery, stitching, macramé (an ornamental craft utilizing twine and knotting methods), and textile weaving methods. As a part of our give again, we hosted a sale in our places of work of hand-made gadgets created by the ladies who’re a part of La Cana. Mixed with our volunteer actions, the cash raised from the sale enabled us to contribute greater than $4,500 USD to fund La Cana’s applications.

Our assist of La Cana’s vital initiatives is a testomony to the ability of collaboration. By bringing collectively our staff, companions, and this social enterprise, we’ve confirmed that collective motion can ship tangible, lasting change. And the advantages of our work prolong far past their rapid impression:

For the group: Girls in susceptible conditions obtained sources, assist, and alternatives to regain their dignity and independence.
For our companions: Connext and Evox strengthened their social impression methods, reinforcing their dedication to company accountability.
For our staff: Volunteers skilled a profound sense of objective and achievement, realizing their efforts immediately modified lives.
For our firm: These efforts deepened our tradition of empathy, strengthened bonds with our companions, and demonstrated our management in driving significant social change.

What’s much more highly effective is the message we ship by prioritizing and collaborating in initiatives like APO Giving Again Week: Giving is a type of management. Let’s proceed to guide with objective and create a brighter future, one group at a time.

Has your group participated in APO Giving Again Week? If that’s the case, do inform us concerning the impression you’ve made along with your companions and in your group.

We’d love to listen to what you suppose. Ask a Query, Remark Under, and Keep Related with #CiscoPartners on social!

Cisco Companions Fb | @CiscoPartners X/Twitter | Cisco Companions LinkedIn

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Immediate espresso might injury your eyes, genetic examine finds – NanoApps Medical – Official web site

Nanotechnology

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18 June 2025

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Immediate espresso might injury your eyes, genetic examine finds – NanoApps Medical – Official web site

A brand new genetic examine exhibits that only one further cup of instantaneous espresso a day may considerably enhance your danger of growing dry AMD, shedding contemporary mild on how our each day beverage selections might form long-term eye well being.

In a current examine printed within the journal Meals Science & Nutrition, researchers utilized an in depth genomic dataset comprising greater than 500,000 people, together with superior genetic correlation and Mendelian randomization analyses, to research the causal associations between espresso consumption and the chance of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Research findings revealed a statistically important genetic causal affiliation between instantaneous espresso consumption and the next danger of dry AMD. In distinction, floor espresso and decaffeinated espresso demonstrated no such associations, highlighting that primarily based on this analysis, antagonistic coffee-AMD hyperlinks seem like unique to instantaneous espresso. The examine discovered that every commonplace deviation enhance in instantaneous espresso consumption corresponded to a considerably elevated danger of the illness.

Background

Genetic correlation was unique to instantaneous espresso. Solely instantaneous espresso confirmed statistically important genetic overlap with dry AMD (rg=0.07, p<0.05), whereas complete, decaf, and floor espresso confirmed no such hyperlink.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an ocular illness characterised by injury to the macula, leading to blurry imaginative and prescient that progressively deteriorates. AMD is the main reason behind imaginative and prescient loss amongst older folks worldwide, estimated to influence 8.7% of adults (196 million instances in 2020). As the worldwide inhabitants ages, AMD prevalence is predicted to surge within the coming many years (~240 million instances by 2040).

Whereas current genetic analysis has recognized a number of correlations between particular person genotypes (susceptibility genes) and AMD growth, the illness’s underlying mechanisms and modifiable danger components (well being behaviors like weight loss program and bodily exercise) stay comparatively understudied. Whereas dietary dietary supplements and scientific interventions (e.g., laser therapy) can sluggish AMD development, the situation is irreversible, underscoring the necessity for prevention-focused analysis and coverage.

Whereas solely a handful of epidemiological research have investigated the function of espresso, one of many world’s hottest drinks, within the pathology of AMD, they report blended and generally conflicting outcomes. Most of those investigations are cohort research and are subsequently weak to biases (e.g., reverse causation, confounding components), which limits their scientific reliability. Moreover, none of those research have differentiated between espresso subtypes (decaffeinated, floor, or instantaneous).

Concerning the examine

Processing byproducts might activate dangerous pathways. The paper particularly implicates superior glycation finish merchandise (AGEs) in instantaneous espresso that bind to retinal cells, probably triggering irritation and oxidative stress.

Biobank & Finngen) in tandem with genetic correlation and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to determine causal associations between totally different types of espresso consumption and subsequently AMD danger.

Espresso consumption knowledge have been obtained from the UK Biobank GWAS abstract statistics, together with sort (complete espresso, n = 105,037; decaffeinated, n = 62,072; floor, n = 72,276; or instantaneous, n = 180,764) and quantity of espresso consumption. AMD knowledge have been obtained from the Finngen GWAS dataset, together with moist AMD (case = 5,890, management = 300,152) and dry AMD (case = 7,589, management = 298,486). The examine’s Mendelian Randomization strategy used genetic variants as a proxy for espresso consumption, a way that inherently minimizes the affect of conventional confounding components like weight loss program and way of life. This strategy depends on key assumptions, together with that the chosen genetic variants affect AMD solely by way of their impact on espresso consumption and never by way of different organic pathways (an idea often called pleiotropy), for which the researchers performed sensitivity assessments.

The examine design and analyses adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Research in Epidemiology utilizing Mendelian Randomization (STROBE-MR) tips and comprised the next:

First, linkage-disequilibrium rating regression (LDSC) analyses have been used to quantify whether or not genetic variants related to subtype-specific espresso consumption additionally correlate with AMD danger. Second, two-sample univariable Mendelian randomization (UVMR) fashions have been used to evaluate causality utilizing GWAS-derived single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Lastly, Bayesian colocalization evaluation was used to establish shared genetic variants between subtype-specific espresso consumption and AMD danger.

Research findings

Colocalization revealed no shared DNA variants. Regardless of the causal hyperlink, researchers discovered zero genetic areas concurrently influencing each instantaneous espresso consumption and AMD growth.

Genetic correlation (LDSC) analyses revealed a big overlap between the genetic predisposition to instantaneous espresso consumption and the next danger of dry AMD, suggesting shared DNA indicators between the 2 traits throughout the human genome. In distinction, different subtypes of espresso consumption confirmed no such correlation. Moreover, no affiliation was noticed between espresso consumption and the chance of moist AMD.

UVMR analyses confirmed these findings and established a causal hyperlink. Particularly, every commonplace deviation enhance in instantaneous espresso consumption was related to a 7.92-fold elevated danger of dry AMD (Odds Ratio [OR] = 7.92; 95% Confidence Interval: 1.79 to 35.15; p = 0.006). After statistical correction for a number of comparisons, the discovering remained important (adjusted p = 0.048). Sensitivity analyses have been additionally performed to help the robustness of those outcomes.

Colocalization evaluation didn’t detect any shared genetic variants or genome areas between espresso consumption and AMD incidence. These findings recommend that processing byproducts, components, or chemical alterations ensuing from dehydration and reconstitution strategies distinctive to instantaneous espresso might contribute to the chance of dry AMD. The paper means that instantaneous espresso can include acrylamide, oxidized lipids, and different compounds not current in contemporary brews.

Conclusions

The current examine establishes a statistically important causal genetic affiliation between the consumption of instantaneous espresso and the chance of dry AMD, although the exact magnitude of this danger has a large margin of uncertainty, as indicated by the broad confidence interval. Whereas the examine datasets have been derived from a predominantly European cohort, thereby limiting their international generalizability, the causal nature of the noticed outcomes prevents their dismissal because of dietary confounds.

Research outcomes recommend that sufferers with early-stage AMD and people with a genetic predisposition to AMD may contemplate lowering their consumption of instantaneous espresso, opting as a substitute for contemporary brews. Clinicians and public well being policymakers ought to weigh this proof when advising sufferers in regards to the potential drawbacks of extremely processed meals like instantaneous espresso.

Journal reference:

Jia, Q., Zha, Z., Li, S., Zhang, Y., Ke, L., & Liu, S. (2025). Genetic Correlation and Mendelian Randomization Analyses Help Causal Relationships Between Immediate Espresso and Age‑Associated Macular Degeneration. Meals Science & Vitamin, 13(6), DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.70439, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/fsn3.70439

Skilled Generalists

Software Development

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18 June 2025

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Writing a complicated laptop program typically requires plenty of detailed
data. If we do that in Java, we have to know the syntax of the
language, the wide selection of libraries obtainable to help us within the work,
the assorted instruments required to confirm and construct our packages. If we do that
in Python as an alternative, we’re confronted with a special syntax, libraries which might be named
and work otherwise, an entire different ecosystem to construct and run our work.

Confronted with these particulars, a pure response is to recruit individuals who
are educated a couple of particular ecosystem. Thus we see job descriptions that say “at
least three years of Java”, and even deeper necessities for subsets of that
group, with expertise in particular instruments. What use is a talented
Python programmer to such a crew?

We have all the time felt that such needs are wrong-headed. The traits
that we have noticed separating efficient software program builders from the chaff
aren’t issues that rely on the specifics of tooling. We relatively recognize
things like: the data of core ideas and patterns of programming, a
knack for decomposing complicated work-items into small, testable items, and the
potential to collaborate with each different programmers and those that will
profit from the software program.

Throw such a Python programmer right into a Java crew, and we might count on them to
prosper. Positive they might ask plenty of questions concerning the new language and
libraries, we might hear plenty of “how do you do that right here?” However such questions
are shortly answered, and the impediments of Java-ignorance quickly wither
away.

An skilled Pythonista who understands
the core patterns and practices of software program growth generally is a productive
member of a crew constructing software program in Java. Realizing the best way to deal with
snakes may be surprisingly useful.

This echoes a protracted debate concerning the relative worth of specialists and
generalists. Specialists are seen as individuals with a deep talent in a particular
topic, whereas generalists have broad however shallow expertise. A dissatisfaction
with that dichotomy led to the concept of “T-shaped individuals”: of us that mix
deep data in a single subject, with a broad however shallow data of many
different subjects. We have seen many such individuals shortly develop different deep legs,
which does not do a lot for the “T-shape” identify (as we’ll focus on under), however in any other case results in
success. Typically expertise of a special surroundings results in making an attempt issues
that appear modern in a brand new residence. Of us that solely work in a single
technological neighborhood are on the fixed threat of locking themselves
right into a data silo, unaware of many instruments that would assist them of their
work.

This potential goes past simply developer expertise. We have seen our greatest
enterprise analysts acquire deep expertise in a few domains, however use their
generalist expertise to quickly perceive and contribute in new domains.
Builders and Consumer Expertise of us typically step exterior “their lanes” to
contribute extensively in getting work accomplished. We have seen this functionality be an
important high quality in our greatest colleagues, to the diploma that its significance
is one thing we have taken as a right.

However more and more we see the software program {industry} push for
rising, narrower specialization.

So over the past yr or so now we have began to withstand this industry-wide
push for slim expertise, by calling out this high quality, which we name an
Skilled Generalist. Why did we use the phrase “knowledgeable”?
There are two sides to actual experience. The primary is the acquainted depth: an in depth command
of 1 area’s inside workings. The second, essential in our fast-moving discipline
is the power to be taught shortly, spot the
fundamentals that run beneath shifting instruments and tendencies, and apply them wherever we land.
For example from software program groups, builders who roam throughout languages, architectures, and drawback areas could seem to be
“jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none,” but repeated dives under floor variations assist them
develop sturdy, principle-level mastery. Over time these generalists can dissect unfamiliar
challenges, spot first-principles patterns, and make assured design selections with the
assurance of a specialist – and sooner. Being such a generalist is itself a
subtle experience.

We have lengthy seen that not simply anybody succeeds as an Skilled Generalist,
however as soon as we perceive the traits which might be key for such Skilled Generalists,
organizations can form studying packages, hiring filters, and profession paths
that intentionally develop them. Certainly our hiring and profession development at
Thoughtworks has been cultivating this talent for over twenty years, however doing
so informally. We expect the {industry} wants to alter gears, and deal with Skilled
Generalist as a first-class talent in its personal proper: one thing we identify,
assess, and prepare for. (However beware, we discover many Skilled Generalists,
together with no less than one writer of this text, cringe on the phrase “knowledgeable”.)

The Traits of an Skilled Generalist

Once we’ve noticed Skilled Generalists, there are specific attributes
that stand out.

Curiosity

Skilled Generalists show plenty of curiosity. When confronted with a brand new
know-how or area, their default response is to need to uncover extra about it, to see
how it may be used successfully. They’re fairly glad to spend time simply exploring the brand new
subject space, increase some familiarity earlier than utilizing it in motion. For many, studying new
subjects is a pleasure in itself, whether or not or not it is instantly
relevant to their work.

This attribute is noticeable when Skilled Generalists get a solution
to a query. Quite than simply typing in some code from Stack Overflow,
an Skilled Generalist’s curiosity normally motivates them to make sure they
perceive the reply, taking the chance to broaden their data,
and examine that the reply they obtained is suitable. It is also current when
asking a query. There’s an artwork to asking questions that elicit deeper
solutions with out main the witness.

Collaborativeness

Studying a couple of new subject space could require studying, watching movies, and prototyping. However
we see the best support right here is one other important attribute: collaborativeness.
A smart Skilled Generalist is aware of that they will by no means actually find out about a lot of the issues
they run into. Their T-shape will develop a number of legs, however by no means sufficient to span all of the
issues they should know, not to mention need to know. Working with individuals who do have these
deeper expertise is important to being efficient in new domains.

Working with an otherly-skilled employee permits the generalist to
contribute whereas the expert collaborator spots more practical paths that
solely a specialist would know. The generalist appreciates these
corrections, studying from them. Studying includes each figuring out extra about
the brand new area, but additionally studying to distinguish between areas the place the
generalist can do main contributions and areas the place the generalist
wants assist from the specialist. We discover Skilled Generalists are by no means
afraid to ask for assist, they know there may be a lot they’re unaware of, and
are wanting to contain those that can navigate by these areas.

An efficient mixture of collaborative curiosity requires
humility. Typically when encountering new domains we see issues that do not
appear to make sense. Efficient generalists react to that by first
understanding why this odd habits is the best way it’s, as a result of there’s
normally a cause, certainly a very good cause contemplating its context. Typically,
that cause is now not legitimate, or was lacking an vital consideration
within the first place. In that scenario a newcomer can add appreciable
worth by questioning the orthodoxy. However at different occasions the rationale was, and
continues to be legitimate – no less than to some extent. Humility encourages the Skilled
Generalist to not leap into difficult issues till they’re certain they
perceive the total context.

This humility extends to recognizing the completely different trade-offs we see
throughout architectures. An structure designed to assist giant volumes
of easy transactions will differ from one designed to deal with a number of
complicated interactions. Skilled Generalists are comfy in a world the place completely different
trade-offs make sense in several circumstances, normally as a result of their
travels have uncovered them to those variations.

Buyer Focus

This curiosity and eagerness to collaborate with individuals with completely different expertise does increase a
hazard. Somebody pushed by curiosity can chase each shiny object. That is the place the
attribute of customer-focus comes into play. We are sometimes impressed with
how an Skilled Generalist takes every unfamiliar know-how and questions the way it helps the
buyer. We’re followers of Kathy Sierra’s notion that our function as software program builders is to assist our
prospects turn out to be “badass” at what they do.

Buyer-focus is the mandatory lens to focus curiosity. Skilled
generalists prioritize their consideration that the issues that can assist them
assist their customers to excel. This encourages studying about what their
prospects do, and the way they will enhance their work. It focuses consideration on
applied sciences that contribute to constructing these issues. Buyer-focus
energizes collaboration, encouraging the trade of data between
buyer and technologist, and permitting the Skilled Generalist to
coordinate different technologists in direction of enabling the purchasers’
excellence.

We’re releasing this text in installments. Future installments will
describe three extra traits of Skilled Generalists, the best way to assess
the Skilled Generalist talent, and the best way to develop Skilled Generalists.

To search out out after we publish the subsequent installment subscribe to this
website’s
RSS feed, or Martin’s feeds on
Mastodon,
Bluesky,
LinkedIn, or
X (Twitter).

Cisco Reside San Diego – that’s a wrap!

Computer Networking

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18 June 2025

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One other nice Cisco Reside is within the books. Who doesn’t love per week full of Cisco innovation, networking, inspiration, and leisure alongside 22,000 of your closest international pals?

AI Was All over the place

From the opening keynote showcasing an spectacular lineup of AI-powered improvements, to the World of Options full of partaking demos, and numerous alternatives to listen to Cisco consultants on stage, it’s clear that Cisco is constructing the crucial infrastructure for the AI period. Throughout Cisco, together with CX, we’re serving to prospects navigate the shift to agentic AI.

This was the main focus of Chief Buyer Officer Liz Centoni’s, Day 2 Keynote: Reworking Cisco Buyer Expertise with AI and Human Experience, the place she shared the pivotal function of agentic AI in Buyer Expertise, and the way we’re delivering safety, resiliency, and ease with CX options like Companies as Code. Cisco’s new analysis on agentic AI – The Race to an Agentic Future: How agentic AI will remodel buyer expertise – is a good supply for extra info.

Whereas Cisco Reside 2024 was AI-focused, it felt like a teaser in comparison with the unimaginable depth of AI innovation I witnessed final week. The expansion of AI is exponential, however as Dr. Vince Kellen, CIO of UC San Diego, shared within the Day 2 Keynote, getting worth out of AI is like choosing olives slightly than grapefruit. With a grapefruit tree, you’re consuming juice in 10 minutes, however with an olive tree it takes 4 months of processing and endurance earlier than you may benefit from the olives.

It takes time to know your AI use case, design/validate, construct, deploy, undertake, and finally understand the return in your funding. Positively extra olive and fewer grapefruit. This was the main focus of my session with Carlos Pereira – Accelerating Modernization and Execution Methods for AI the place we explored the challenges prospects face and the way CX helps them on their AI adoption journey.

I briefly stepped away from CX subjects to hitch Martin Lund, EVP of the Frequent {Hardware} Group, on stage at IT Management. Collectively, we mentioned making ready for AI-ready infrastructure with Silicon One and emphasised the significance of flexibility, efficiency, and effectivity in modernizing information middle environments. And sure, he actually does carry the newest Silicon One chip in his pocket!

One other spotlight of Cisco Reside was the Cisco Buyer Achievement Awards ceremony. Winners had been chosen from a whole bunch of nominations of consumers main the way in which in AI-readiness, future-proofed workplaces, digital resilience, and sustainability. We additionally celebrated a number of CX-specific award winners, together with our 2025 CX Buyer Hero of the 12 months winner – Joe Gleeson from Intel. Congratulations to Joe and all the opposite buyer award winners!

I’ll shut this submit with gratitude–for the relationships and experiences I’ve gained over a few years at Cisco, my first as chief of CX Americas, and now 19 complete Cisco Reside occasions. Right here’s to many extra! Bookmark the Cisco Reside On-Demand Library to see replays from San Diego as they’re added.

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