The network is the secret sauce in the next phase of AI/automation

AI has become such a part of our daily lives that we don’t even notice it. Alexa, Siri, lighting and temperature controls at the gym. Machine-operated sorting and packaging at the warehouse. Fraud detection with online banking and credit cards.

And it’s all powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Music apps like iTunes and Spotify were some of the earliest manifestations to hit the mainstream, showing us how a digital companion can get to understand our likes and patterns. The more you feed the machine, the smarter and more astute and personalized its recommendations become.

These AI-powered touches are already part of our work, play, and day-to-day. But, as someone who needs to be on the pulse of all things networking, I see even more significant possibilities for the role of the network, AI, and automation in today’s enterprise. There is almost nothing that doesn’t touch a network in an organization these days, so imagine the insights and intelligence that lies within.

Studies have shown that consumers don’t mind waiting for a good thing, such as a custom product. But when it comes to the basics, convenience and immediacy are as expected as food and clothing. Call it the Amazon Effect or the digital era. Many companies have built a complete business model around immediacy, which became nearly impossible to achieve with fewer workers and stifled supply chains.

But to get the most out of investments and create the AI magic that businesses and customers expect, it takes more than purchasing a few new shiny solutions—the underlying connective technology must be ready. It’s when everything is working together, from the wires running throughout a building to the AI applications, that organizations will begin to see operational improvements that help them save time and money. Most importantly, companies need to think about “responsible AI”—meaning make sure you are using the data and insights responsibly to inform future use cases and strategies.

While AI has improved significantly over the past several years, we’ve just started to scratch the surface. The next big thing in AI/automation will be using the network not just to support AI tools, but to automate the network itself and stretch the potential of AI even further. However, this must be done in a way that doesn’t jeopardize proprietary information, data, ideas, or innovation.

Let’s go back to the pandemic (just for a second!). Remember how everything digital was fast-tracked? To stay relevant during lockdowns, enable remote working, and keep in contact with customers, businesses had to invest in AI. Suddenly, we were in video consults with the doctor. Our kids were online learning. All the stores had touchless transactions.

Most of these organizations didn’t have a strong foundation of technology to build upon, which left them scrambling to adopt solutions like customer service chatbots that would help them survive during the pandemic.

Today, having some kind of automated service is table stakes. And whether you’re running a district-wide school board or a retail outlet, to stay competitive, you need a network that’s primed for AI automation and advanced digital processes.

Though AI started as a “nice to have” luxury, it’s becoming a necessity for businesses that need to move quickly and sort through terabytes of data to drive smarter decision-making.

And it’s going to continue to grow in importance when it comes to automating repetitive but necessary tasks. Entire job descriptions, like operations managers or many roles in IT, will change dramatically—they won’t go away, but the role of the human employee will be partially shaped by what AI is capable of managing on its own. Meanwhile, the network will serve as the nucleus behind the scenes, capturing a goldmine of data, insights, workflows, and intelligence that will drive the next wave of AI evolution.