Automation represents perhaps the clearest embodiment of Benjamin Franklin's legendary "time is money" aphorism -- and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven networks are one area where it's relatively easy to see the near-term benefits that give new meaning to Franklin's simple phrase. Network automation simplifies operations for network teams and reduces configuration errors. So, it stands to reason that greater automation through AI will deliver a more predictable and reliable network that seemingly can speed up time while saving lots of money. We turned to the CIO Experts Network of IT professionals and industry analysts to collect their views on AI-driven networks and how the technology is likely to change the lives of network teams. "I think of an AI-driven network as one that can be prepared in advance of a catastrophe or breach by capturing and saving critical data prior to a network outage or cyber event," says Scott Schober (@ScottBVS), President/CEO at Berkeley Varitronics Systems, Inc. "When this is an integrated part of the network, troubleshooting time is reduced delivering improved efficiencies for network teams. Still, like all things AI, it's necessary to sort what's real from what's hype, experts say. Hyped up AI technologies are often rolled out as the solution to all problems, observes Nicki Doble, Chief Transformation Officer AIA Philippines. "I don't buy into the hype," she says. "However, I absolutely agree that an AI-driven network helps in detecting new and never seen before threats.

The sheer amount of services and network complexity will require a step up of current network capabilities. Specifically, 5G networks will need to incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its offspring Machine Learning (ML). As AI/ML continue to gain steam and the rest of the business world gets on board, current networks are suffering from the lack of capabilities needed. To be honest, today's mostly manual, static networks are not suited for these advanced technologies. And while agile, self-organizing networks will exist in the future, service providers need to address their digital transformation efforts today, focusing on near-term solutions, to build the foundation for these networks of tomorrow.

Mist's Bob Friday: An AI-driven network maximises the user experience through better performance and reliability while lowering IT costs through better efficiencies. Artificial intelligence (AI) – it's a nebulous term that means many things to different people. What is true is that one day in the near future, machines will be likely to possess'human-level' intelligence, providing organisations with efficiencies that they have never seen before. But what role is AI playing inside organisations today, particularly when it comes to providing a good experience for internal users and external customers across their wide area networks? Tech execs gathered in Sydney in September to discuss the benefits of using artificial intelligence technologies inside their wired and wireless networks.

In the digital age, network management has grown increasingly complicated and at an almost breakneck speed. Next-generation networks promise legions of microservices and network management challenges that most experts believe can only be handled by some form of network management automation, be it via deterministic means or through AI. On October 10 in Las Vegas, Juniper Networks gathered industry analysts to discuss the company's vision for next-generation networks. In light of the continued slow pace of adoption of software-defined networks (SDN) and network automation, it was interesting that the theme of the discussions was more about people and processes and less about cutting-edge technology. In essence, Juniper Networks feels that vendor solutions are not matching up well to where they have to run and who is supposed to run them.