- Cisco is launching a $1B global investment fund to expand and develop secure, reliable and trustworthy AI solutions.

- Cisco is making strategic investments with world-class start-ups across software and infrastructure that build upon Cisco’s strategy to connect and protect the AI era.

- Cohere, Mistral AI and Scale AI among the initial GenAI startups joining the Cisco Investments portfolio to help build a broader AI ecosystem.

Cisco Investments, the venture capital arm of Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO), announces the launch of a $1 billion fund dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI) investments. This initiative aims to foster innovation in the startup ecosystem and drive the development of secure and reliable AI solutions. As part of this fund, Cisco is making strategic investments in Cohere, Mistral AI, and Scale AI, among others. These investments will enhance customers' AI capabilities and align with Cisco's AI innovation strategy. To date, Cisco has already committed approximately $200 million of the total $1 billion investment fund.

The rapid pace of AI's global impact is transforming industries and redefining how businesses interact and rely on technology. According to recent research by IDC (2023), the global AI market is projected to double in size to over $500 billion within the next three years. This presents a significant opportunity for enterprises like Cisco to harness the power of Gen AI, revolutionize their products and services, and deliver enhanced value to their customers and end users.  

More than 30 years Cisco has Invested, Partnered with hundered of companies and accelerated its AI capabilities through over 20 strategic acquisitions and investments over the past few years, bolstering its GenAI and Machine Learning expertise. These investments have enabled the integration of AI across Cisco's portfolio, aligning with the company's comprehensive strategy to connect and secure the AI-driven era. Beyond these investments, Cisco is fostering collaborations with leading AI companies to co-innovate and develop new products, while maintaining its position as a neutral provider and platform player in the AI landscape, offering diverse solutions and support to its global customer base.

Cisco's new AI fund has committed investments in:

- Cohere (Toronto and San Francisco): Develops security-focused large language models and Retrieval-Augmented Generation capabilities tailored for enterprises.

- Mistral AI (Paris): Specializes in generative artificial intelligence, creating new models for businesses with a focus on scientific excellence, openness, and responsible technology.

- Scale AI (US): Offers a data-centric platform for training and validating AI applications, with Cisco as the largest strategic investor in their recent Series F funding round.

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