The artificial intelligence landscape is rapidly evolving across various sectors, with major players like Cisco, Microsoft, and Google making significant advancements while consumer adoption of platforms such as ChatGPT continues to soar. As of November 2025, ChatGPT boasts over 800 million weekly active users, demonstrating its widespread integration into daily life for tasks ranging from tutoring and professional work to health inquiries, though OpenAI cautions against using AI for medical diagnoses. Businesses are also leveraging ChatGPT, with over 2 million corporate users. This surge in AI use necessitates robust infrastructure. Cisco, for instance, unveiled a new strategy on November 13, 2025, to help customers adopt AI more easily, projecting $3 billion in revenue from its AI infrastructure by fiscal year 2026. The company is heavily investing in AI products, data centers, and upgrading its global network, also releasing Unified Edge for faster and more secure AI processing. Similarly, industrial networks are seeing increased demands for speed, low delays, and strong security due to AI applications like predictive maintenance and quality checks, leading to new industrial Ethernet switches supporting edge computing and high bandwidth. AI's transformative power is particularly evident in finance. On November 14, 2025, Microsoft Corporate Vice President Bill Borden discussed how agentic and generative AI are reshaping banking, capital markets, and insurance. Chief Financial Officers confirm AI's impact, with Deloitte's James Glover advising a clear strategy. Webflow's CFO, Craig Mestel, uses AI to automate routine questions, while INRIX's Thadd Stricker reported AI improved forecasting accuracy to 95%. Greenlight's Michelle Cheung applies AI for risk management and operations, though CFOs emphasize human oversight as not all AI uses succeed immediately. Morgan Stanley data further supports this, showing S&P 500 companies reporting real AI benefits have doubled in the past year, with technology, communication services, and financials leading the gains. Even Energy companies are now seeing returns, rising from 0% to 10%. Beyond enterprise applications, Google entered the social media marketing space on October 28, 2025, with Pomelli AI, an experimental tool developed with DeepMind. This AI analyzes a brand's website to create a "Business DNA" and automatically generates consistent social media content for platforms like Instagram and Facebook, available as a free public beta in several countries. However, the rapid advancement of AI also presents challenges. Scammers are exploiting the emotional bonds users form with chatbots, with a Fractl survey revealing 22% of AI users feel an emotional connection, and 3% a romantic one. Anola Johnson, for example, lost $850,000 to AI-enhanced romance scams. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged the potential for more human-like interactions, prompting Utah lawmakers to pass six AI laws, including one against AI impersonation. Meanwhile, Rabbit, the company behind the AI-powered R1 device, faced an employee strike since October due to unpaid wages since July, attributed by CEO Jesse Lyu to regulatory issues in India. Despite this, Rabbit anticipates a new funding round and plans for new AI hardware in 2026. Even retail giant Walmart is preparing for the AI era, with John Furner set to take over as CEO in February 2026, succeeding Doug McMillon, who guided the company into the Internet age.
Key Takeaways
- ChatGPT reached over 800 million weekly active users by November 2025, with 2 million business users.
- Cisco announced a new AI strategy on November 13, 2025, projecting $3 billion in AI infrastructure revenue by fiscal year 2026.
- Industrial networks require enhanced Ethernet switches to support AI applications, demanding higher speed, lower delays, and robust security.
- Microsoft Corporate VP Bill Borden highlighted AI's transformative impact on the finance sector, including banking, capital markets, and insurance.
- CFOs are leveraging AI for tasks like automating routine questions, improving forecasting accuracy to 95%, and enhancing risk management, emphasizing the need for a clear strategy and human oversight.
- Morgan Stanley data shows S&P 500 companies reporting real AI benefits have doubled in the past year, with technology, communication services, financials, and energy sectors seeing gains.
- Google launched Pomelli AI on October 28, 2025, an experimental marketing tool that generates social media content for brands based on their "Business DNA."
- Scammers are using advanced AI to exploit emotional bonds with chatbots, leading to significant financial losses, prompting new AI laws in Utah.
- Employees at Rabbit, maker of the R1 AI device, went on strike due to unpaid wages since July, though the CEO expects a new funding round to resolve issues.
- Walmart is preparing for the AI era, with John Furner succeeding Doug McMillon as CEO in February 2026.
Cisco helps customers adopt AI with new strategy
Cisco announced a new plan on November 13, 2025, to help its customers use AI more easily. The company expects its AI infrastructure to bring in $3 billion in revenue by fiscal year 2026. Cisco is investing in AI products and data centers, and upgrading its global network to support large-scale AI. CEO Charles Robbins noted that many companies need better infrastructure for AI. Cisco also released Unified Edge to process AI faster and more securely.
AI and security boost industrial network needs
AI and security are changing what industrial Ethernet switches need. These switches are vital for factory networks, enabling communication between machines and control systems. As industries use AI for tasks like predictive maintenance and quality checks, networks need more speed, low delays, and strong security. This means industrial Ethernet switches must support edge computing, high bandwidth, and advanced Power over Ethernet. Suppliers are now offering switches with these improved features.
ChatGPT reaches 800 million users in 2025
As of November 2025, ChatGPT has over 800 million weekly active users, showing how much people use AI daily. A Washington Post study of 47,000 conversations found that people use ChatGPT mostly for tutoring, professional tasks, and health questions. OpenAI reports, co-authored with Duke and Harvard, confirm these findings. Businesses also use ChatGPT for work, with over 2 million business users. While many ask for health advice, OpenAI warns against using AI for medical diagnoses.
Microsoft VP discusses AI transforming finance
On November 14, 2025, Bill Borden, a Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, spoke about how AI is changing the finance world. He discussed agentic and generative AI's impact on banking, capital markets, and insurance. Borden shared his insights with Bloomberg's Diksha Gera at the Building a Future-Ready Business event in New York.
AI helps scammers exploit emotional bonds
Scammers are using advanced AI to take advantage of people's emotional connections with chatbots. A Fractl survey found that 22% of AI users feel an emotional bond, with 3% reporting a romantic one. Anola Johnson lost $850,000 to romance scams, believing AI made them seem real. Experts like Brandon Amacher warn that younger users are especially vulnerable. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman even noted that ChatGPT will allow more human-like interactions. Utah lawmakers have passed six AI laws, including one against AI impersonation.
Rabbit R1 maker faces unpaid employee strike
Employees at Rabbit, the company behind the AI-powered R1 device, have been on strike since October because they have not been paid since July. CEO Jesse Lyu admitted that regulatory issues in India, where they planned to sell the R1, caused financial problems. Lyu remains hopeful, stating that a new funding round is closing soon and all employees will be paid. Despite the issues, Rabbit still plans to release new AI hardware in 2026.
Walmart CEO retires US head takes over
On November 14, 2025, Walmart Inc. announced that CEO Doug McMillon will retire in February. John Furner, who currently leads Walmart US, will take over as the new Chief Executive Officer. McMillon led the company into the Internet age for over a decade. Furner is expected to guide the retail giant into the new era of AI.
CFOs find AI transforms finance with clear strategy
Chief Financial Officers agree that AI is changing finance, but only when a clear strategy guides its use. James Glover from Deloitte advises CFOs to define their goals before using AI. Webflow's CFO, Craig Mestel, uses AI to automate routine questions and access data with natural language. Thadd Stricker, CFO of INRIX, reported AI improved forecasting accuracy to 95%. Michelle Cheung from Greenlight uses AI for risk management and operations. CFOs also noted that not all AI uses succeed at first, emphasizing the need for human oversight and persistence.
AI benefits grow for some industries
New data from Morgan Stanley shows that more S&P 500 companies are seeing real benefits from using AI. The number of companies reporting clear improvements has more than doubled in the past year. Technology companies lead the way, with 39% seeing gains from AI, up from 26% last year. Communication Services and Financials also show significant benefits, while Energy companies have started to see returns, rising from 0% to 10%.
Google launches Pomelli AI for social media
Google has launched Pomelli AI, a new experimental marketing tool developed with DeepMind. This AI analyzes a brand's website to create a "Business DNA" profile. It then automatically generates social media content, including text, images, and layouts, for platforms like Instagram and Facebook, ensuring brand consistency. Pomelli AI launched on October 28, 2025, as a free public beta in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Users must manually upload the generated content as it does not auto-publish.
Sources
- Cisco Outlines Strategy to Help Customers Struggling With AI Adoption
- AI and Security Drive Increased Edge Computing and PoE Requirements in Industrial Ethernet Switches
- ChatGPT's Hidden Pulse: Decoding 800 Million Users' AI Habits in 2025
- Microsoft VP on the Next Wave of AI Redefining Finance
- Scammers using AI to exploit emotional connections with victims
- Some Rabbit employees say they haven't been paid in months, but R1 maker insists new AI hardware is coming
- Walmart CEO Retires, US Head to Lead Retailer Into AI Age
- CFOs say AI is transforming finance—but only when strategy leads the way
- Chart: AI is paying off, but only for these industries so far
- Pomelli AI는 무엇인가? 구글의 새로운 마케팅 도구 완전 정복 가이드 (2025)
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