The conversation around AI has changed – and that's a good thing.
Last month, the ROCTEL team attended Dublin Tech Summit 2026, joining thousands of technology leaders, innovators and business decision-makers to discuss the future of AI, cybersecurity and digital transformation.
While the event showcased some incredible innovations, one thing stood out above everything else: the conversation around AI is maturing. Rather than focusing solely on what's possible, the discussions centred on how organisations can adopt AI responsibly, securely and in a way that delivers real business value.
Here are our biggest takeaways from this year's summit.
One of the most interesting conversations throughout the summit was around AI sprawl.
Just as shadow IT became a challenge with the rise of cloud applications, organisations are now seeing employees adopt AI tools independently, often with the best intentions. While these tools can significantly improve productivity, they also create new questions around governance, visibility and data security.
The message was clear: businesses need to encourage innovation while ensuring the right controls are in place.
One of the most reassuring aspects of the summit was the honesty.
Whether it was global technology companies, innovative startups or enterprise leaders, there was widespread agreement that there is no finished playbook for AI adoption. The organisations making the most progress aren't necessarily moving the fastest—they're taking the time to test, learn and establish governance as they go.
AI is creating incredible opportunities, but it's also changing the cyber threat landscape.
Speakers highlighted how threat actors are already using AI to automate attacks, create increasingly convincing phishing campaigns and identify vulnerabilities more quickly than ever before. As AI capabilities evolve, cybersecurity strategies must evolve with them.
For businesses, this reinforces the importance of visibility, resilience and proactive security rather than simply reacting to threats after they've occurred.
Despite the excitement surrounding AI, one message remained consistent throughout the summit.
AI should empower people—not replace them.
The organisations seeing the greatest success are using AI to remove repetitive tasks, improve decision-making and enhance collaboration, while ensuring people remain at the centre of critical business decisions.
These conversations resonated strongly with us.
As we continue developing Helena, our own AI agent, we're exploring many of the same opportunities and challenges discussed throughout the summit. Like many organisations, we're learning, testing and refining as the technology evolves.
At the same time, the summit reinforced something we've believed for many years: successful AI doesn't begin with AI itself. It begins with secure networks, resilient infrastructure, strong governance and the confidence that your technology can support whatever comes next.
At ROCTEL, that's exactly what we're focused on delivering through our Cisco-powered managed services—helping organisations connect, protect and defend while embracing the next generation of technology.
Want to learn more about how ROCTEL is helping organisations build secure, AI-ready infrastructure?
Get in touch with our team today to discuss how our Cisco-powered managed services can help your business embrace AI with confidence.
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