4. Europe is on the AI clock
Every wave of know-how creates a possibility for the completely different areas of the globe to ascertain themselves as a frontrunner. The battle for AI supremacy is nicely underway with the US having a robust foothold. The Center East is prone to have an effect, as many nations there have made commitments to investing on this space.
Throughout a press Q&A, Oliver Tuszik, president of EMEA for Cisco, talked in regards to the alternative for Europe and the necessity to act as one. He commented that usually, the bigger EU nations, comparable to Germany and France, are likely to act in their very own finest pursuits. However that will not have one of the best long-term final result. Whereas they carry financial heft inside the EU, every particular person nation is small when in comparison with the likes of the US, India, the Center East area and others. However the EU as a complete carries vital weight.
Tuszik expressed some urgency for the EU to behave as one and is optimistic that nation leaders are aligned on this. He pointed to the EU AI Act as a proof level that the area understands what’s at stake. He added that the construction of the AI Act being final result primarily based versus overly regulated is one other indicator of change inside the EU. Time will inform if Tuszik’s optimism is warranted, however we shouldn’t have to attend lengthy to inform.
5. Silicon One stays Cisco’s finest stored secret
Cisco is among the few community distributors that manufactures its personal silicon. The tech trade tends to gravitate to sure pattern that change into absolutes, comparable to “all the pieces is transferring to the cloud.” For years, in networking, doing extra in software program was all the craze. However it’s all the time a mix of issues that create an ideal expertise. In networking, one can do quite a bit in software program, however there are particular duties, comparable to managing visitors, deep packet inspection and buffering, which are finest performed in silicon.
A great way to grasp the significance of customized silicon is to look no additional than the AI house. Nvidia initially made a GPU as a result of common objective processors couldn’t deal with excessive efficiency graphics. Equally, Cisco makes Silicon One as a result of the community has distinctive necessities that don’t carry out nicely with off-the-shelf chips. Initially, Silicon One was used for Cisco to regain a foothold with the hyperscalers, however the firm has performed a wonderful job of bringing the advantages of Silicon One to the remainder of its product line, together with the above-mentioned N9300.
Given the worth/efficiency and have consistency profit Cisco will get with Silicon One, I’m stunned on the lack of promoting and associated consciousness of it. During the last yr or so, I’ve seen Martin Lund, government vp of the widespread {hardware} group at Cisco, get in entrance of consumers, press and analysts extra typically. However articulating the advantages is one thing Cisco ought to double down on slightly than it being a “finest stored secret.”