30 Years on the Frontlines of the Internet: Why I'm Optimistic About AI
Cisco, Thursday, October 1st, 2026
A Cisco security leader reflects on 30 years of internet security and why the gap between innovation and defense is no reason to fear AI.
The post recalls one of the first cybersecurity service calls in commercial internet history, taken by Cisco customer service representative Greg Akers, at a time when Cisco had no security team or process.
It argues that the gap between what is built and what can be defended reflects novelty rather than recklessness, since safety has always trailed invention, from the light bulb to the internet.
The author uses that history to explain an optimistic view of securing AI.