2025 Showcase

2025 AI in Networking


Welcome to the NextGenInfra AI in Networking Showcase, our research guide for enterprise and carrier network executives navigating the complex landscape of AIOps for networking, revised for 2025 to address the rise of agentic workflows.
This year's report covers the evolution of the three waves of AI: predictive, generative, and agentic. We look at the state of the technology and the market, as well as the leading use cases in 2025. We also re-examine the path to autonomous networks. We hope our report provides useful guidance in your decision-making as you look at AI implementation for your network operations.
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2025 AI in Networking

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Analysis by AvidThink

What the 2025 report finds

Across the interviews, vendors are converging on agentic AI as the next operational layer for networks, moving past predictive and generative waves toward multi-agent systems that require standardization and vendor-neutral interoperability to reach autonomous operations.

  1. Three waves of AI, now cresting on agentic

    Sponsors frame a progression from predictive ML to generative AI to agentic AI. Ericsson, Blue Planet, Ribbon, and IBM all describe layered architectures and multi-phase journeys moving operations toward autonomy.

  2. Autonomy needs divide-and-conquer, not one giant model

    Nokia targets level-four autonomy by breaking complex network domains into specialized expert systems. Blue Planet similarly structures AI Studio across agentic core, tooling, and application layers rather than a monolithic approach.

  3. Multi-vendor interoperability is the gating problem

    Standardization recurs as the blocker to autonomous operations. Nokia points to protocols like MCP, Cisco's open-source AGNTCY project aims for an "internet of agents" spanning vendors, and Ribbon commits to a vendor-neutral strategy.

  4. AI is pitched at concrete operational outcomes

    Use cases are specific: IBM claims 90-95% cloud-like utilization and pre-outage remediation, Arista analyzed AI application impact on enterprise WANs, and Blue Planet instantiates dynamic network slices via natural language.

  5. The skills gap is an explicit driver

    Vendors position AI as a response to operational complexity and staffing shortages. Nokia's three-pronged strategy pairs accessible interfaces, consultative services, and SaaS, while Ericsson cites 84% of leaders calling AI critical within three years.

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Highlights from industry thought leaders

Director’s Cut

Extended, in-depth versions of select interviews.

Director’s Cut
Arista Networks

Arista's Vision for Agentic AI in Enterprise Networks

  • AI is reshaping the enterprise WAN, and Arista is positioning its cloud platform to meet those emerging demands.
  • Arista's cloud platform embeds AI for network troubleshooting and application management.
  • The approach spans both wired and wireless environments for unified operations.
Abstract
Kishan Ramaswamy, Director, Product Management and Brendan Gibbs, Vice President, AI Routing & Switching Platforms at Arista Networks share their views on the impact of AI in the enterprise WAN and also touch on how Arista's cloud platform integrates AI capabilities for network troubleshooting and application management while supporting enhanced operations across wired and wireless environments.
Director’s Cut
Blue Planet (a Ciena Company)

Digging into Agentic-AI Operations with Blue Planet

  • Blue Planet's AI Studio framework structures agentic AI across three layers: agentic core, tooling, and applications.
  • The platform spans inventory, orchestration, and assurance for service provider customers.
  • Agentic AI is applied to bring new operational capabilities across the service lifecycle.
Abstract
In this extended video, Jean-Phillippe Goyet, Sr. Director Product Management - AI at Blue Planet (a Ciena Company), describes how Blue Planet implements agentic AI through their AI Studio framework, which operates across three layers: agentic core, tooling, and applications. He describes how the Blue Planet platform spans inventory, orchestration, and assurance, bringing new capabilities to their service provider customers.
Director’s Cut
Ericsson

AI-Native Networks - From Predictive to Agentic AI

  • Ericsson lays out a three-phase AI journey toward autonomous network operations.
  • The goal is to transform the NetCloud Manager platform into an autonomy-enabling system.
  • A virtual assistant, ANA, is a centerpiece of the enterprise AI experience.
Abstract
Archana Khetan, SVP, Product Management and Technical Marketing at Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions, in this extended cut, explains how AI is reshaping enterprise operations. She outlines their three-phase AI journey to transform their NetCloud Manager platform into a system that enables autonomous network operations, featuring their virtual assistant ANA.
Director’s Cut
IBM

What's Next for AI-Driven Networking

  • IBM Network Intelligence combines automation and predictive insights for next-generation network operations.
  • Trust is positioned as a core design principle alongside automation.
  • IBM frames the product as central to the shift toward autonomous operations.
Abstract
This extended edition video captures Director of Portfolio Management & M&A, Ben Hickey and Program Director, Sanil Nambiar, from IBM discussing how IBM Network Intelligence is bringing automation, predictive insights, and trust into next-generation network operations.
Director’s Cut
Nokia

Nokia: The Future of AI-Driven Operations

  • Nokia targets level four autonomy via a "divide and conquer" approach that splits network domains into specialized expert systems.
  • Standardization is emphasized as essential for multi-vendor environments.
  • A three-pronged strategy tackles skills shortages through accessible interfaces, consultative services, and SaaS.
Abstract
In this extended video, Wim Henderickx, CTO IP Division at Nokia, outlines Nokia's AI for networking vision focused on achieving level four autonomy through a "divide and conquer" approach that breaks complex network domains into specialized expert systems. He emphasizes standardization for multi-vendor environments and describes Nokia's three-pronged strategy to address skills shortages through accessible interfaces, consultative services, and Software-as-a-Service solutions.
Director’s Cut
Ribbon

AI Automation for Real-Time, Multi-Vendor Networks

  • Ribbon centers on cloud-native technology and AI-driven automation via a three-layered architecture for carriers and enterprises.
  • The platform delivers deployment automation, cloud monitoring, and security management.
  • Ribbon maintains a vendor-neutral strategy across its automation stack.
Abstract
Ram Ramanathan, VP Product Management at Ribbon, outlines the company's focus on cloud-native technology and AI-driven automation through a three-layered architecture approach for carriers and enterprises. He describes how Ribbon provides deployment automation, cloud monitoring, and security management while maintaining a vendor-neutral strategy.

Video interviews

Arista Networks

AI in Enterprise Networking with Arista VeloCloud

  • Arista's analysis of over 200 AI applications reveals their impact on enterprise WAN requirements.
  • The VeloCloud solution is positioned to meet AI application demands via AIOps.
  • The focus is matching WAN capabilities to the specific needs of AI workloads.
Abstract
Kishan Ramaswamy, Director, Product Management at Arista Networks, discusses how their analysis of over 200 uncovered the impact of AI applications on enterprise WANs and how Arista's VeloCloud solution can address these AI application requirements and capabilities effectively via AIOps.
Blue Planet (a Ciena Company)

Digging into Agentic-AI Operations with Blue Planet

  • Blue Planet takes a two-pronged approach: out-of-the-box applications plus customer enrichment.
  • Existing processes are re-engineered and optimized rather than simply automated.
  • A flagship capability is instantiating dynamic network slices via natural language.
Abstract
Jean-Phillippe Goyet, Sr. Director Product Management - AI at Blue Planet (a Ciena Company), outlines their two-pronged approach that provides out-of-the-box applications while enabling customer enrichment. He describes how they re-engineer and optimize existing processes to create new capabilities like instantiating dynamic network slices via natural language.
Cisco Systems

Agency Project: Building the Internet of Agents for Enterprise AI Collaboration

  • Cisco's AGNTCY is an open-source initiative building an "internet of agents" for cross-vendor AI collaboration.
  • The framework spans four capabilities: discovery, composition, secure communication, and performance evaluation.
  • AGNTCY is backed by major technology companies, signaling an industry-wide interoperability push.
Abstract
Vijoy Pandey, SVP & GM, Outshift by Cisco at Cisco Systems, discusses the AGNTCY project, an open-source initiative backed by major technology companies that aims to build an "internet of agents" enabling autonomous AI agents to collaborate across different vendor environments. He explains that AGNTCY provides an architectural framework with four key capabilities - discovery, composition, secure communication, and performance evaluation.
Ericsson

AI-Native Networks - From Predictive to Agentic AI in Enterprise Operations

  • 84% of business leaders view AI as critical to organizational success within three years.
  • Ericsson's strategy is to transform the NetCloud platform into an AI-native system.
  • AI is framed as fundamentally reshaping enterprise network operations.
Abstract
Archana Khetan, SVP, Product Management and Technical Marketing at Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions, explains how AI is reshaping enterprise operations, with 84% of business leaders viewing AI as critical to organizational success within three years. She outlines their strategy to transform their NetCloud platform into an AI-native system.
IBM

What's Next for AI-Driven Networking

  • IBM Network Intelligence targets cloud-like network utilization rates of 90-95%.
  • The product aims to identify and remediate issues before outages occur, optimizing capex.
  • It pairs analytical AI for telemetry scale with generative AI to cut across siloed data and systems.
Abstract
Ben Hickey from IBM introduces IBM Network Intelligence, a new product designed to enable autonomous network operations that can identify and remediate issues before outages occur while optimizing capital expenditure and achieving cloud-like utilization rates of 90-95%. The solution combines analytical AI for handling network telemetry scale with generative AI capabilities to cut across siloed data and systems.
Nokia

The Future of AI-Driven Operations with Nokia

  • Nokia's "divide and conquer" strategy builds specialized expert systems per network domain.
  • Standardized interfaces are essential for autonomous, multi-vendor operations.
  • Protocols like MCP are called out as enablers of cross-vendor system collaboration.
Abstract
Wim Henderickx, CTO IP Division at Nokia, discusses how Nokia implements a "divide and conquer" strategy for autonomous network operations by creating specialized expert systems for different network domains. He highlights the need for standardized interfaces and protocols like MCP to enable collaboration between different vendor systems.
Ribbon

AI Automation for Real-Time, Multi-Vendor Networks

  • Ribbon moves beyond siloed automation toward outcome-driven architecture tied to specific network problems.
  • The company is investing in agentic AI development.
  • Enhanced network data analysis is a key pillar of Ribbon's practical AI strategy.
Abstract
Ram Ramanathan, VP Product Management at Ribbon, discusses the company's practical AI implementation strategy that moves beyond traditional siloed automation toward outcome-driven architecture addressing specific network problems. He outlines Ribbon's investments on agentic AI development and enhanced network data analysis.
Solutional

AI's Impact on Network Operations: Strategic Guidance for Real Results

  • AI is opening opportunities to fundamentally rethink network management approaches.
  • Solutional helps customers cut through vendor claims to assess real value.
  • The focus is developing effective, grounded strategies for network automation.
Abstract
Scott Robohn, CTO of Solutional, explains how AI is changing network operations and creating new opportunities for organizations to fundamentally alter their network management approaches. Robohn describes how Solutional helps customers navigate vendor claims and develop effective strategies for network automation.
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