As we think about the diverse needs of our customers, it’s clear that one size does not fit all. Businesses today require flexibility and adaptability in how their communications solutions are deployed, and this is where Webex stands apart.
Webex is powered by a resilient, enterprise-grade platform built for security, reliability, and adaptability to specialized needs — whether that’s data sovereignty, air-gapped environments, or industry-specific compliance.
As we continue to expand our cloud footprint globally, we recognize that some customers cannot migrate to the cloud at the same pace, or in some cases, may never be able to move to the cloud at all. For years, AI-powered collaboration features like transcription, summarization, and intelligent assistance have been accessible only to organizations running cloud-connected environments — leaving a significant segment, including defense contractors, financial institutions, healthcare providers, and public sector organizations, on the sidelines.
That changes today.
Cisco AI PODs for Collaboration
I am excited to share that Cisco AI PODs for Collaboration are now generally available, bringing fully private and secure AI innovations to your on-premises collaboration environment. This isn’t about replicating cloud features — it’s about tailoring a solution that delivers reliability, control, and customization to meet the unique challenges of on-premises deployments.
Cisco AI PODs for Collaboration provide real-time transcription services for Cisco on-premises Meeting (Cisco Meeting Server), enabling customers to unlock the productivity benefits of AI while keeping sensitive data within their controlled environment. With support for air-gapped deployments and no external connectivity requirements, organizations can deploy AI-powered transcription in even the most restricted networks.
With AI PODs, organizations get:
- Data residency assurance — Data never leaves your defined on-premises boundary.
- Full secure and private AI interaction — All AI processing happens locally; no data is sent to external servers or cloud services.
- Deployment flexibility — Deploy on-premises, at the edge, or in hybrid environments based on your security posture, not vendor limitations.
- Scale with confidence — Support for 700–800 concurrent transcription sessions per Collaboration AI POD, with multi-POD load balancing and built-in fault tolerance.
This is AI on your terms, without compromise.
Features and Benefits
- Real-Time Transcription — Automatic Speech Recognition delivers live closed captions and transcription with near-instant results. Available in five languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian, and German.
- Secure by Design — TLS 1.3 encryption, API key authentication, and encrypted storage ensure every interaction is protected end to end.
- Multi-POD Architecture — Scale horizontally with intelligent load balancing across multiple appliances.
- Logging and Analytics — Comprehensive logging supports efficient troubleshooting, and built-in analytics provide visibility into utilization and usage trends.
- Load Balancing and Fault Tolerance — The Collaboration AI PODs SDK features intelligent, built-in load balancing that automatically distributes sessions across multiple PODs using a least-load, top-down approach — ensuring optimal resource utilization, seamless scalability, and continuous service availability without manual intervention.
All of this happens with zero cloud dependencies and total data control. Organizations can access AI-enhanced collaboration experiences entirely on-premises, in air-gapped environments, with no data leaving their infrastructure.
The Power of Connected Intelligence
Connected Intelligence continues to be our North Star — a continuous loop of human-to-AI-to-human interaction where technology amplifies collaboration rather than complicating it.
AI PODs are a critical piece of this puzzle, ensuring that even the most security-sensitive organizations aren’t forced to choose between AI capabilities and data control. The vision is simple: one system, any deployment model — cloud, hybrid, or on-premises — powered by Cisco.
What’s Next
Today’s general availability is just the beginning. We will continue to expand collaboration AI capabilities for our on-premises customers, including AI Assistant Summarization, additional languages, and support for on-premises Calling and Contact Center — bringing more of the intelligence our cloud customers enjoy to every deployment model.
In addition, Webex cloud customers with AI security and privacy top of mind will also benefit from Cisco AI PODs for Collaboration — bringing the same private, controlled AI experience to hybrid deployments.
If you have questions or would like to learn more about Cisco AI PODs for Collaboration, contact your Cisco Account Manager or reach out to us here.
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