Networking: Are We Going to Have Full-stack Network Engineers in the Years to Come?

If you know network engineering, you know the secrets of the universe

Lexie Cooper | Network engineer,Blue Origin

The network remains the backbone of our digital economy, enabling us to work, learn, and be entertained no matter where we are. While trends may come and go, the network is still here, and all the amazing technology we enjoy would be nothing without it. Network engineers are the architects of change and impact in our world; they design and maintain the most complex infrastructures. In the age of artificial intelligence, is networking sufficient? After observing the industry for a decade, I would like to share my thoughts.

A movement of resistance

Console cables, endless syntaxes, errors, and the blame culture, so many things have changed in the industry, a culture of fear was created rather than the excitement to embrace change and opportunities.

Cloud computing came and did not replace network engineers, Automation came to the rescue by helping network engineers to gain time and focus on critical tasks, how many network engineers were replaced in the industry?

We are not in the console cable or CLI era anymore, things change and we have to adapt!

AI is not perfect like a growing baby it will improve its steps, are you sceptic or optimistic about the future of network engineering

in the AI age?

The AI advent

AI is real and extends beyond the current hype. Network engineers should invest their time to thrive during this exciting yet turbulent period of AI development; in ten years, numerous changes will occur!

OpenAI has taken the world by storm with ChatGPT, disrupting the industry. Incredible innovations are being built on top of their APIs, and although they may not be perfect, there are ample opportunities to benefit from them.

While some engineers remain skeptical about the future of AI in networking, others around the world are embracing it. I believe the modern workforce is being augmented by AI.

However, alongside the advantages that AI brings, there are concerns regarding privacy and the potential for significant cyberattacks, especially as the ecosystem grows around the hype and the quest to change the world with AI.

No one understands networks better than network engineers, and in this new AI economy, they have a crucial role to play.

The AI dilemma

We are currently in a race to innovate, with everyone eager to make a difference using AI. No one wants to fall behind!

However, amidst the excitement, there are significant security concerns. Cybercriminals are closely monitoring developments to identify potential vulnerabilities they can exploit.

Security breaches can occur daily, and their consequences can be devastating, potentially costing companies millions and damaging their reputations.

In the age of AI, simply building and integrating APIs is not enough; prioritizing security is essential, especially beyond the hype of this competitive landscape.

Full-stack network engineers

I see a future where network engineers will play a huge role in the AI world to come by combining 3 skills:

• Networking: Network engineers possess networking skills that allow them to see things from a broader perspective, which many other tech professionals may not easily recognize. In this era of artificial intelligence, network engineers are more essential than ever; after all, there can be no AI without networking. As complex networks continue to scale, the demand for a skilled workforce in this unique landscape will only increase.
• Cybersecurity: It’s impossible to secure what you do not understand. Network engineers play a vital role in securing infrastructures, especially in this era of AI. While cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility, network engineers should not be overlooked from a technical perspective. They possess a deeper understanding of networking than anyone else in the industry.
• Artificial intelligence: Network engineers should embrace AI as a valuable ally to enhance their decision-making processes. AI is not a replacement for the workforce; rather, it will continue to play a crucial role in networking and cybersecurity. Engineers can leverage AI's capabilities without having to perform all the tasks themselves.

Conclusion

While the excitement surrounding AI is still high and the ecosystem continues to grow with many new tools, we need to develop a skilled workforce of full-stack network engineers. This preparation involves combining three essential skills to thrive in the emerging AI landscape.

AI is a reality, and beyond its marketing hype, it raises concerns about security and privacy. In this era of large language models (LLMs) and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), if we can't secure our digital world, what will happen when artificial general intelligence (AGI) arrives? The future will reveal the answer, but I believe there is no future for AI without the expertise of network engineers.

Rather than succumbing to skepticism and a culture of fear, we must take the time to learn and adapt now.