The world’s data just keeps growing, zipping information across global networks in excess of 1 billion gigabytes every month. Add the most advanced artificial intelligence software to date, shake and pour all over everything. The results are better applications, analytics, storage — you name it.

Unfortunately, the recipe is not so simple for one area in particular — networking. Encrypted data, among other things, makes AI for networking a whole different beast, according to Nicola Rohrseitz (pictured), lead of corporate strategy, AI program, at Cisco Systems Inc.

“For one, the data is different — and often it’s encrypted,” Rohrseitz said. “How do you do AI on encrypted data?”

Also every network is its own uniquely twisted, winding superhighway. “These are two fundamental differences that force us to be creative and to pioneer new ways of doing AI,” he added.

Cisco sees tons of data travel around its networks. It is uniquely positioned to crack the networking-AI nut through the Cisco Research Center’s AI/ML unit, according to Rohrseitz.

Rohrseitz spoke with Dave Vellante (@dvellante) and Stu Miniman (@stu), co-hosts of theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s mobile livestreaming studio, during the Cisco Live event in Barcelona, Spain. They discussed the challenges of applying AI to networking and Cisco’s plan to innovate in the area. (* Disclosure below.)

This is AI. This is AI on networking.

Cisco sees the gaps in AI for networking and believes filling them will pay off immensely. “It’s a tremendous business opportunity,” Rohrseitz said. “Some market research talks about $1.2 trillion that’s going to be captured by companies that adopt AI compared with those that don’t.”

Cisco feels increasing pressure to apply AI to the deluge of data going through its networks. But for Cisco, it’s really a necessity, because data is going to increasingly flow through business networks. 

AI at Cisco revolves around three axes — infrastructure, “the fit,” and unique data. Infrastructure is about dealing increased data; “the fit” is about providing ways customers and partners can implement their AI/ML strategies; and unique data addresses different amounts and types of data.

“This is where, on one side, we have systems that work at scale, but also we have the kind of data that can be used by our customers to better understand their own business,” Rohrseitz said. “We are going to release products that have more and more AI in it, and the whole industry will evolve and have a better understanding of what’s possible and what’s not.”

Watch the complete video interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of the Cisco Live event. (* Disclosure: Cisco Systems Inc. sponsored this segment of theCUBE. Neither Cisco nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE