Introducing AI: Cisco aims to usher in a new era of networking

Artificial intelligence has reshaped the landscape of nearly every industry, creating an environment that is automated, efficient and accurate.

But according to Thomas Scheibe (pictured), vice president of networking product management at Cisco Systems Inc., the networking industry has a unique opportunity to harness AI in unique and innovative ways.

“The question I got was … do we need to do anything with the network to make this work?” he said. “We actually have a great blueprint that we released this week on how to actually deploy the network and extend what we already have to support AI workloads.”

Scheibe spoke with theCUBE Industry Analysts John Furrier and Dave Vellante on Cisco Live during an exclusive broadcast on SiliconANGLE Media’s live streaming studio, theCUBE. They discussed the integration of AI into networking and the need for network support for AI workloads.

Network revolution with AI

The use of AI in networking has spawned several innovations. One of them is Cisco’s AI Networking Blueprint. It serves as a guide for organizations to extend their existing network infrastructure to accommodate AI workloads. But what’s particularly noteworthy about the blueprint, Scheibe said, is that it shatters conventional wisdom in the networking space.

“In the past, people used to say, ‘You need a dedicated InfiniBand network to connect a GPU. We can also use Ethernet because we have it,” he said.

Debunking this conventional wisdom means that organizations no longer need to create separate networks for GPUs and CPUs. Instead, it can operate on a single standard data center Ethernet network, resulting in new efficiencies and reduced operating costs.

According to Scheibe, one of the key benefits of AI in the age of big data is its ability to analyze large data sets and extract valuable insights that would otherwise remain hidden.

“The advantage of companies with large datasets will be very successful in leveraging AI/ML because they will get better quality answers faster,” he said.

Cisco has its own data assets, and the company leverages those data assets with a broader set of contextual assets from the broader internet. By leveraging these data assets, Cisco is not only creating value from dormant resources, but harnessing the power of AI to unlock efficiencies, improve productivity, and create more streamlined solutions for customers. Effective networking is building his solution, Scheibe added.

The history and future of AI

Cisco’s AI journey didn’t happen overnight. The company has spent more than five years integrating AI solutions into its networking his technology, building systems that can balance AI workloads with normal traffic. Despite misconceptions about AI stealing jobs, the integration of AI into networking unlocks new capabilities, Scheibe said.

“We don’t see this as cost cutting or exiting positions,” he said. “It’s about freeing up features that you can’t access today because you’re busy doing your current job.”

Scheibe’s outlook on the role of AI in future networking is clear. AI will serve as a key tool to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and unlock new possibilities. And as companies move further into the AI ​​era, those companies that can effectively leverage their data assets and integrate AI solutions will lead the networking industry of the future.

Below is the full video interview. Part of Cisco Live coverage by SiliconANGLE and theCUBE.

Photo: Silicon ANGLE