
The Everything Feed - All Packet Pushers Pods NAN107: How AI is Changing the Networking Landscape
Nov 26, 2025
Chris Kane, an experienced network engineer with a rich background in Navy communications and AI networking, joins Eric for a thrilling discussion on the impact of AI on the networking landscape. They delve into the urgent need for engineers to evolve alongside innovations in AI clusters, emphasizing the importance of intellectual curiosity and humility. Key topics include the shift towards Ethernet technology, the complexities of managing power and cooling in dense environments, and the critical role of observability in AI network deployments. Get ready for fascinating insights!
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How Chris Kane Found Networking
- Chris Kane stumbled into networking via the U.S. Navy and early internet companies like CompuServe.
- He says logging into a router for the first time 'hooked' him and started a 30‑year career.
Talk To Adjacent Teams Early
- Talk to compute, storage, and facilities teams early; don't be a 'selfish network engineer.'
- Chris Kane says cross‑team conversations reveal priorities like power and cooling that shape designs.
Do Homework On Physical Layer Trends
- Do homework on optics, encoding (PAM4/PAM6), and co‑packaged optics before joining AI projects.
- Chris Kane urges checking vendor release notes and feature sets to match project needs.



