--- title: All About AI Ops description: Chalan Aras, Senior Vice President at Riverbed, joins the TeleGeography Explains the Internet podcast to discuss how the rise of artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping the way we think about the WAN. image: https://resources.telegeography.com/hubfs/Content/Content-Graphics/2026/Social%20Media/Aras%20Thumbnail.png --- [![TG\_LOGO](https://resources.telegeography.com/hubfs/TeleGeography%20Hub%20Theme%20Nov%202025/images/TG_LOGO.svg)](https://www2.telegeography.com/) - [About](https://www2.telegeography.com/about-us) - [Research](https://www2.telegeography.com/our-research) - [Products](https://www2.telegeography.com/products) - [Solutions](https://www2.telegeography.com/solutions) - [Resources](https://resources.telegeography.com) [Log In](https://www.telegeography.com/login/login?service=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegeography.com%2Faccount%2Fhome%2Findex) [Contact](https://www2.telegeography.com/contact-us) ###### Data and Analysis Tools - [Cloud and WAN Research Service](https://www2.telegeography.com/cloud-and-wan-infrastructure) - [Data Center Research Service](https://www2.telegeography.com/data-center-research-service) - [GlobalComms Database](https://www2.telegeography.com/globalcomms-database-service) - [International Voice Report](https://www2.telegeography.com/telegeography-report-and-database) - [IP Networks Research Service](https://www2.telegeography.com/ip-networks-research-service) - [ISP Navigator](https://www2.telegeography.com/isp-navigatorisp-navigator) - [Transport Networks Research Service](https://www2.telegeography.com/transport-networks) - [Network Pricing Database](https://www2.telegeography.com/telegeography-pricing-database) - [WAN Cost Benchmark](https://www2.telegeography.com/wan-cost-benchmark) - [Product Passes](https://www2.telegeography.com/product-passes) ###### Consulting - [All Consulting Services](https://www2.telegeography.com/consulting) - [Submarine Cable Consulting](https://www2.telegeography.com/submarine-cable-consulting) ###### Maps - [All Map Services](https://www2.telegeography.com/map-services) - [Sponsor a Map](https://www2.telegeography.com/sponsor-a-map) - [License Map Data](https://www2.telegeography.com/license-geocoded-map-data) - [Cite a Map](https://www2.telegeography.com/cite-telegeography-map) - [Buy a Map](https://shop.telegeography.com/collections/telecom-maps/) ###### Industry - [Education](https://www2.telegeography.com/telegeography-for-education) - [Enterprise](https://www2.telegeography.com/enterprise) - [Tech](https://www2.telegeography.com/tech) - [Telecom](https://www2.telegeography.com/telecom) ###### Case Studies - [AI + Retail Telecom Data](https://www2.telegeography.com/where-to-get-global-telecom-data) - [EXA Infrastructure](https://www2.telegeography.com/exa-infrastructure-case-study) - [Orange Wholesale](https://www2.telegeography.com/orange-wholesale-case-study) - [The European Commission](https://www2.telegeography.com/the-european-commissions-data-backed-approach-to-international-policy) [Back to Resources](https://resources.telegeography.com/) # All About AI Ops ##### By [Greg Bryan,](https://resources.telegeography.com/author/greg-bryan) Jan 22, 2026 [WAN](https://resources.telegeography.com/tag/wan) [Podcast](https://resources.telegeography.com/tag/podcast) [Data Centers](https://resources.telegeography.com/tag/data-centers) [AI](https://resources.telegeography.com/tag/ai) #### Subscribe to get more episodes: [![](https://resources.telegeography.com/hubfs/TeleGeography%20Hub%20Theme%20Nov%202025/images/streamline-logos_apple-podcast-logo-solid.svg) Amazon](https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/706a488e-d4e8-45a9-99a4-c6e51c4a86ea/telegeography-explains-the-internet) [![streamline-logos\_apple-podcast-logo-solid](https://resources.telegeography.com/hubfs/TeleGeography%20Hub%20Theme%20Nov%202025/images/streamline-logos_apple-podcast-logo-solid.svg) Apple](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/telegeography-explains-the-internet/id1518397175) [![](https://resources.telegeography.com/hubfs/TeleGeography%20Hub%20Theme%20Nov%202025/images/streamline-logos_apple-podcast-logo-solid.svg) PodBean](https://telegeography.podbean.com/) [![](https://resources.telegeography.com/hubfs/TeleGeography%20Hub%20Theme%20Nov%202025/images/streamline-logos_apple-podcast-logo-solid.svg) Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/74XN1NIPcb34Gv1atFMGht?si=vG3SfwaVSGawNge05Opvnw) [![](https://resources.telegeography.com/hubfs/TeleGeography%20Hub%20Theme%20Nov%202025/images/streamline-logos_apple-podcast-logo-solid.svg) TuneIn](https://tunein.com/podcasts/Technology-Podcasts/The-WAN-Manager-Podcast-p1334040/?topicId=528873159) [![](https://resources.telegeography.com/hubfs/TeleGeography%20Hub%20Theme%20Nov%202025/images/streamline-logos_apple-podcast-logo-solid.svg) YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@TeleGeographyData) #### This podcast conversation covers: **Chalan Aras, Senior Vice President at [Riverbed](https://www.riverbed.com/) discusses how the rise of artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping the way we think about the WAN.**  - AI for Networking vs. Networking for AI: How Riverbed balances using AI to manage IT operations (AIOps) with the physical necessity of moving massive amounts of data to "AI furnaces" (GPUs). - The AI Data Tsunami: Why data is currently growing faster than infrastructure can be upgraded, and why Time is the most critical metric for AI project success. - The Shift from SD-WAN to "Data Fabrics": Chalan shares a view on why SD-WAN may be fundamentally changing or even declining as the industry moves toward more dynamic, densely connected AI data fabrics centered on the cloud and data center. - Unified Observability: The importance of moving away from siloed tools toward integrated platforms that can correlate data across desktops, mobile devices, and the core network to remediate issues before users even see them. #### Key Takeaways ### The dual challenge: AI for networking vs. networking for AI Aras distinguishes between two critical concepts: "AI for Networking" and "Networking for AI." Riverbed addresses both, but they serve different functions. "Networking for AI" addresses the physical necessity of moving massive amounts of data to what Aras calls "AI furnaces"—the GPUs that require constant fuel to operate. Conversely, "AI for Networking" (or AIOps) utilizes AI to manage IT complexity. In this role, the system acts as an "IT concierge," identifying the "needle in a haystack" among anomalies and automating remediation so IT teams don't have to hunt for small issues manually. ### The AI data tsunami and the currency of time We are currently witnessing an "AI data tsunami" where data generation is outpacing the ability to upgrade physical infrastructure. Aras notes that "digging trenches and hanging things on poles is hard and expensive," leading to a gap where data grows faster than the network. Consequently, the most critical metric for AI success is time. Because GPUs are "more valuable than gold or platinum these days," having them wait for data is a massive inefficiency. With the rise of Agentic AI, where transactional timings are measured in milliseconds, Aras warns that "Father Time is not with AI," making high-speed data movement essential. ### The shift from SD-WAN to AI data fabrics In a contrarian take, Aras predicts that "SD-WAN is going to die" as a standalone market driver, arguing it is becoming a commodity buried within broader solutions. He suggests the industry focus is shifting back toward the data center and the cloud, where high volumes and complexity are returning. To handle this, Aras proposes a move toward "AI data fabrics." Unlike a traditional network, a fabric is densely connected and "flexes"—modulating itself based on the contours of the traffic. This dynamic architecture is necessary to connect the core to the edge, such as life sciences labs or factories. ### The necessity of unified observability As networks evolve into complex fabrics, siloed management tools become a liability. Aras explains that if a laptop is infected with malware, it triggers alarms across the endpoint agent, the network probe, and the cloud application. Without unified observability, IT teams face three separate alarms. A unified platform correlates this data, identifying that the root cause is on the laptop and allowing for immediate remediation before the user is even aware of the issue. ## Explore Related Content ![SmartNICs, Explained](https://resources.telegeography.com/hubfs/2021/Blog%20Assets/video-conference-6077159_1280.jpg) ###### Podcast Episode Mar 29, 2021 #### [SmartNICs, Explained](https://resources.telegeography.com/what-are-smartnics) [Read Full Article](https://resources.telegeography.com/what-are-smartnics) ![Are These WAN Sourcing Trends Real or Just Hype?](https://resources.telegeography.com/hubfs/2023/Blog%20Assets/AdobeStock_68866527-1.jpeg) ###### Podcast Episode Sep 5, 2023 #### [Are These WAN Sourcing Trends Real or Just Hype?](https://resources.telegeography.com/are-these-wan-sourcing-trends-real-or-just-hype) [Read Full Article](https://resources.telegeography.com/are-these-wan-sourcing-trends-real-or-just-hype) ![WAN Trends, Explained](https://resources.telegeography.com/hubfs/WAN%20Trends%20Explained%20thumbnail.jpg) ###### Podcast Episode Sep 8, 2026 #### [WAN Trends, Explained](https://resources.telegeography.com/wan-trends-explained) [Read Full Article](https://resources.telegeography.com/wan-trends-explained) [![TG\_LOGO\_color\_horizontal\_SIMPLIFIED 1](https://resources.telegeography.com/hubfs/TeleGeography%20Hub%20Theme%20Nov%202025/images/TG_LOGO_color_horizontal_SIMPLIFIED%201.svg)](https://www2.telegeography.com/) [Login](https://www.telegeography.com/login/login?service=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegeography.com%2Faccount%2Fhome%2Findex) [Contact Us](https://www2.telegeography.com/contact-us) ###### [About](https://www2.telegeography.com/about-us) - [Research](https://www2.telegeography.com/our-research) - [Products](https://www2.telegeography.com/products) - [Solutions](https://www2.telegeography.com/solutions) - [Demo](https://www2.telegeography.com/demo) ###### [Press](https://www2.telegeography.com/telegeography-press) - [Events](https://www2.telegeography.com/telecom-events) - [Careers](https://www2.telegeography.com/careers) ###### [Resources](https://resources.telegeography.com/) - [Podcast](https://www2.telegeography.com/telegeography-explains-the-internet-podcast) - [Newsletter](https://www2.telegeography.com/subscribe-to-telegeography-emails) - - All Rights Reserved 2026 - [Privacy Policy](https://www2.telegeography.com/privacy-policy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Greg Bryan", "url" : "https://resources.telegeography.com/author/greg-bryan" }, "dateModified" : "2026-06-17T17:09:26.239Z", "datePublished" : "2026-01-22T13:30:00.000Z", "headline" : "All About AI Ops", "image" : [ "https://resources.telegeography.com/hubfs/Content/Content-Graphics/2026/Social%20Media/Aras%20Thumbnail.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://resources.telegeography.com/all-about-ai-ops", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://resources.telegeography.com/hubfs/assets/telegeography/telegeography-logo-blog.png" }, "name" : "TeleGeography" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org/", "@type" : "WebSite", "image" : "https://www2.telegeography.com/hubfs/Website/assets/logo/telegeography-logo.svg", "name" : "All About AI Ops", "potentialAction" : { "@type" : "SearchAction", "query-input" : "required name=search_term_string", "target" : "{search_term_string}" }, "url" : "https://resources.telegeography.com/all-about-ai-ops" } ```