# Cisco assigns 27-year-old engineer to rewrite 98% of legacy code with AI in 24 months

Digest AI · Enterprise & Industry · published 2026-10-30T11:26:56Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/cisco-assigns-27-year-old-engineer-to-rewrite-98-of-legacy-code-with-a

## Summary

Cisco’s president, Jeetu Patel, has given a 27-year-old engineer, Padmanabhan Krishnamurthy, an unprecedented task: refactor 98% of the company’s legacy code within 24 months using AI. Krishnamurthy, previously at Cisco after its acquisition of translation startup EzDubs, was previously stuck in a low-level role. Patel, citing Krishnamurthy’s claim that even Cisco’s AI-forward teams weren’t leveraging AI for code refactoring, has granted him unlimited AI tokens and a four-week proof-of-concept phase to prove the approach’s feasibility.

Patel’s move reflects a broader push to inject younger, AI-savvy talent into legacy tech firms. He aims to hire more engineers who challenge traditional corporate structures, blending experienced operators with AI-native founders. The strategy comes amid rising concerns about AI-driven coding risks, including accidental data deletions and unintended edits. Patel acknowledges potential friction between Gen Z hires and older employees but frames it as necessary for innovation.

## Key points

- Cisco gives 27-year-old engineer Padmanabhan Krishnamurthy unlimited AI tokens to refactor 98% of legacy code in 24 months
- Krishnamurthy previously worked at Cisco after its 2023 acquisition of translation startup EzDubs, where he co-founded it
- Patel cites AI coding’s risks but sees young hires as key to disrupting legacy tech workflows

## Why it matters

Cisco’s bold experiment signals how AI-driven code refactoring could reshape enterprise tech, but risks like accidental deletions remain unaddressed.

## Sources

1. [Cisco gives 27-year-old engineer unlimited AI tokens to rewrite 98% of the company's legacy code in 24 months — president plucks former startup founder, telling him to 'go nuts'](https://tomshardware.com/tech-industry/big-tech/cisco-gives-27-year-old-engineer-unlimited-ai-tokens-to-rewrite-98-percent-of-the-companys-legacy-code-in-24-months-president-plucks-former-startup-founder-telling-him-to-go-nuts) (Tom's Hardware, 2026-10-30)

## Cite

Digest AI, "Cisco assigns 27-year-old engineer to rewrite 98% of legacy code with AI in 24 months", 30 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/cisco-assigns-27-year-old-engineer-to-rewrite-98-of-legacy-code-with-a

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