The Everything Feed - All Packet Pushers Pods HN810: AI in Network Operations: Pragmatism Over Hype (Sponsored)
Jan 16, 2026
Ethan and Drew chat with Igor Tarasenko, Senior Director at Equinix, who specializes in AI-native networking. They explore how APIs are becoming the new control plane and the importance of observability in AI-driven networks. Igor highlights the shift towards software-driven networking and on-demand services, alongside the integration of Infrastructure as Code in WANs. He also delves into using AI to bridge human intent with networking operations, emphasizing the need for context-aware systems. A must-listen for tech enthusiasts!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
On‑Demand 100Gb For A Live Event
- A customer requested 100 gig ports for a sports event and needed them provisioned in hours.
- Igor used this to illustrate how digital ports and rapid provisioning replace physical lead times.
Make APIs The Primary Interface
- Do treat APIs as primary interfaces and automate everything rather than relying on manual portal access.
- Igor recommends releasing capabilities via APIs first and integrating with SDKs and IaC tools like Terraform.
Network As Part Of Infrastructure‑As‑Code
- Treat wide‑area networking as part of infrastructure-as-code alongside compute and storage.
- Igor argues global networking must be stitched into application deployment for distributed AI and modern apps.