Artificial intelligence has reshaped the landscape of almost all industries, creating an environment that is automated, efficient and accurate.

The networking industry, however, has a unique opportunity to utilize AI in a distinct and transformative way, according to Thomas Scheibe (pictured), vice president of networking product management at Cisco Systems Inc.

“The question I get is … do we need to do something with my network to make this work?” he said. “We have a great blueprint, which we actually released this week, on how to actually get the network in or expand what you already have to support AI workloads.”

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

Revolutionizing networking with AI

The use of AI in networking has generated several innovations, one of which is Cisco’s AI networking blueprint. It serves as a guide for organizations to expand their existing network infrastructure to accommodate AI workloads. But what makes this blueprint especially noteworthy is the dispelling of conventional wisdom in the networking space, according to Scheibe.

“In the past, people said, ‘Hey, I need an InfiniBand dedicated network to connect GPUs. The answer is you really don’t. You can also use Ethernet, because Ethernet has evolved over the years to actually have lossless characteristics,” he said.

This debunking of conventional wisdom means that organizations do not need to create separate networks for GPUs and CPUs. Instead, they can operate on one standard data center ethernet network, unlocking new efficiencies and reducing operational costs.

In the era of big data, one significant advantage AI brings to the table is the ability to analyze large data sets and extract valuable insights that could otherwise remain hidden, according to Scheibe.

“The advantage of companies with large sets of data will be very, very successful at leveraging AI/ML, because you … get to better quality answers faster,” he said.

Cisco has unique data assets, and the company is leveraging those, along with a broader context set of assets, from the wider internet. By harnessing these data assets, Cisco is creating value from dormant resources, as well as leveraging AI’s ability to unlock efficiencies and generate greater productivity, creating a more streamlined and effective networking solution for its clients, Scheibe added.

The AI journey and the future

Cisco’s journey into AI did not start overnight. The company has been integrating AI solutions into their networking technologies for over five years, creating systems that can balance AI workloads alongside regular traffic. Despite the misconceptions surrounding AI taking over jobs, the integration of AI into networking is about unlocking new capabilities, according to Scheibe.

“I don’t look at this as saving costs or getting rid of positions,” he said. “It’s about unlocking capabilities that today I can’t get to because I’m busy running the current job.”

Scheibe’s perspective on AI’s role in the future of networking is clear: AI will serve as a vital tool to streamline operations, improve efficiencies and unlock new possibilities. And as the enterprise moves further into the age of AI, the companies that can effectively harness their data assets and integrate AI solutions will be the ones leading the networking industry into the future.

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of Cisco Live:

Photo: SiliconANGLE