With the public release of ChatGPT and Microsoft's $10-billion investment into OpenAI, artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly gaining mainstream acceptance. For enterprise networking professionals, this means there is a very real possibility that AI traffic will affect their networks in major ways, both positive and negative. As AI becomes a core feature in mission-critical software, how should network teams and networking professionals adjust to stay ahead of the trend? Andrew Coward, GM of Software Defined Networking at IBM, argues that the enterprise has already lost control of its networks. The shift to the cloud has left the traditional enterprise network stranded, and AI and automation are required if enterprises hope to regain control.

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.