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Heavy Networking

Heavy Networking

HN832: AI Agents Are Just Another Tool: How to Integrate With Your Network Automation Strategy (Sponsored)

Jun 19, 2026 · 46 min · 11 segments

AI has complicated network automation. It has created questions: If AI generates code for me, do I need to learn Python? Should I be writing a script to gather network information if I can dispatch an…

AI has complicated network automation. It has created questions: If AI generates code for me, do I need to learn Python? Should I be writing a script to gather network information if I can dispatch an AI agent to gather that information for me instead? What new skills can I skip obtaining if AI stands[... Read more »](https://packetpushers.net/podcasts/heavy-networking/hn832-ai-agents-are-just-another-tool-how-to-integrate-with-your-network-automation-strategy-sponsored/ "ReadHN832: AI Agents Are Just Another Tool: How to Integrate With Your Network Automation Strategy (Sponsored)")

AI has complicated network automation. It has created questions: If AI generates code for me, do I need to learn Python? Should I be writing a script to gather network information if I can dispatch an…

Speakers: Chris WadeGuestEthan BanksHost

Top entities: AI agent×6 Itential, Inc.×14 Artificial intelligence×8 Ansible×4 Signature×2

Conference Chatter & Developer Debate1:30 – 2:36

E

Ethan BanksHost

1:30

You've been on a number of times before over the years.

E

Ethan BanksHost

1:33

And I want to set up the conversation for us this way.

E

Ethan BanksHost

1:37

We got to a point with network automation, and we're here at AutoCon, we're at AutoCon 5, having yet an ongoing conversation about network automation.

E

Ethan BanksHost

1:47

And a lot of the presentations that have happened at this conference are about hey, if you're serious about building a network automation platform for your company, you need a developer.

E

Ethan BanksHost

1:58

You need someone that's committed to this.

E

Ethan BanksHost

2:00

Now it could be a network engineer that's devoted to the maintenance, the care and feeding and customization of your network automation platform, or you're gonna bring in a developer and make them, dedicate them as a resource to your network operations team, because that's what it takes.

E

Ethan BanksHost

2:16

That's the kind of level of commitment that it takes So some people have made that argument.

E

Ethan BanksHost

2:21

And then there's lots of other alternates and ways that you could go.

E

Ethan BanksHost

2:26

Now we've got agentic AI that has come in.

E

Ethan BanksHost

2:28

We've been talking a lot about it to the point of it frustrating the heck out of some engineers who say, can we not talk about this conversation? But

AI agentEntity
98%6 mentions
Itential, Inc.CompanyCompany
94%14 mentions
Artificial intelligenceEntityProfessional field
90%8 mentions
AnsibleSoftware ApplicationSoftware
85%4 mentions
SignatureEntity
81%2 mentions
PythonBrandHigh-level programming language
77%12 mentions
Large language modelEntity
73%15 mentions
SlackSoftware ApplicationMobile application
69%4 mentions
RunbookEntity
65%1 mention
MunichCityCity in Germany
60%2 mentions
GeminiEntity
56%1 mention
EnglishEntitySpoken language
52%2 mentions
ChatGPTSoftware ApplicationSoftware
48%2 mentions
Mac MiniEntityDesktop computer
44%1 mention
VLANEntity
40%2 mentions
Border Gateway ProtocolEntityInternet protocol
35%1 mention
Arista NetworksCompanyNetworking hardware company
31%1 mention
Request for CommentsEntity
27%2 mentions
Open Shortest Path FirstEntityInternet protocol
23%1 mention
GoogleCompanyTechnology corporation
19%1 mention
LinkedInSoftware ApplicationSocial networking service
15%2 mentions
Domain-specific languageEntity
10%1 mention
ServiceNowCompanyCompany
6%1 mention
ClaudeSoftware ApplicationSoftware
2%1 mention

Information TechnologyBusiness
Large Language ModelsTechnology > Artificial Intelligence > Machine Learning
Software DevelopmentTechnology
Development PracticesTechnology > Software Engineering
Network ManagementBusiness > Information Technology
AutomationTechnology > Software Development
Technical DebtTechnology > Software Engineering > Development Practices
Contextual ReasoningTechnology > Artificial Intelligence > Machine Learning > Large Language Models
Software EngineeringTechnology
DevOpsTechnology > Software Development > Automation
Agentic AITechnology > Artificial Intelligence
Technology
Business
Network AutomationTechnology > Artificial Intelligence > Agentic AI
Reasoning in AITechnology > Artificial Intelligence > Agentic AI > Network Automation
OrchestrationTechnology > Software Development > Automation > DevOps
Infrastructure AutomationBusiness > Information Technology > Network Management
AI IntegrationBusiness > Information Technology > Network Management > Infrastructure Automation
Automation ChallengesTechnology > Software Engineering > Development Practices > Technical Debt
Artificial IntelligenceTechnology
Machine LearningTechnology > Artificial Intelligence

Conference Chatter & Developer Debate1:30 – 2:36

E

Ethan BanksHost

1:30

You've been on a number of times before over the years.

E

Ethan BanksHost

1:33

And I want to set up the conversation for us this way.

E

Ethan BanksHost

1:37

We got to a point with network automation, and we're here at AutoCon, we're at AutoCon 5, having yet an ongoing conversation about network automation.

E

Ethan BanksHost

1:47

And a lot of the presentations that have happened at this conference are about hey, if you're serious about building a network automation platform for your company, you need a developer.

E

Ethan BanksHost

1:58

You need someone that's committed to this.

E

Ethan BanksHost

2:00

Now it could be a network engineer that's devoted to the maintenance, the care and feeding and customization of your network automation platform, or you're gonna bring in a developer and make them, dedicate them as a resource to your network operations team, because that's what it takes.

E

Ethan BanksHost

2:16

That's the kind of level of commitment that it takes So some people have made that argument.

E

Ethan BanksHost

2:21

And then there's lots of other alternates and ways that you could go.

E

Ethan BanksHost

2:26

Now we've got agentic AI that has come in.

E

Ethan BanksHost

2:28

We've been talking a lot about it to the point of it frustrating the heck out of some engineers who say, can we not talk about this conversation? But

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