Cisco Redefines Data Center Architecture with New Smart Switches, Embedding Services Directly into the Network
As AI workloads multiply, building and managing data centers has become much more complex. Data center operators require a simpler way to design, build, and deploy infrastructure to fully benefit from AI. AI applications must sit where they are needed, whether a massive large language model sitting in centralized hyperscale facilities or a network drone monitoring crop irrigation at the very edge of the network. This shift in where data is created, accessed, and stored requires a new type of simplified data center infrastructure–one that integrates compute, storage, networking, and security in new ways, and allows for automated and predictive operations via simplified management platforms.
'Data center infrastructure needs be reimagined for both AI training and inferencing workloads that dwarf even the largest enterprise jobs of the past,' said Jeetu Patel, EVP and Chief Product Officer, Cisco. 'Simply upgrading data center infrastructure with higher 'speeds and feeds' switches does not address the requirements of modern data centers, which require acceleration of security and network services natively within the data center fabric.'
'Cisco's innovative approach to data center design, leveraging leadership AMD Pensando DPUs, marks a significant milestone in transforming enterprise infrastructure to address the evolving security demands of data center networks while dealing with the fast paced AI deployments,' said Soni Jiandani, senior vice president and general manager, Networking Technology and Solutions Group, AMD. 'Our collaboration with Cisco enables enterprises to achieve high-capacity throughput and impressive network security without compromising on workload performance on Cisco UCS servers or Hypershield enabled platforms. Together, we are paving the way for a new era of intelligent, adaptive, and secure data centers.'
Cisco Smart Switches: a Game Changer
As AI drives rapid growth, organizations must manage significantly increased power, compute and networking demands. In traditional data center architectures, when each new service required a specific device, growth led to complexity. It also required adding, changing, or upgrading the enforcement of security policies with each new service or workload. Cisco Smart Switches offer a simpler, more efficient and extensible architecture by integrating services directly with the data center fabric, rather than bolting them on top.
By combining Cisco data center networking, Silicon One, and AMD DPUs, customers can scale services and adapt quickly to evolving business needs, all without the need for any additional hardware. The switches feature two processing engines: a high-performance network processor for stable data transfer and a network services sidecar for agile security processing. Traffic is intelligently steered between the two engines for optimal performance. This architectural shift drives cost savings through hardware consolidation, reduced power consumption, and operational simplicity. Cisco Smart Switches embrace all the capabilities of a NX-OS switch and management through Nexus Dashboard, and will unlock a diverse set of use cases like stateful segmentation, IPSec encryption, enhanced telemetry, DDoS protection and more.
Reimagining Data Center Security with Smart Switch and Hypershield
The first integrated service will combine Cisco Smart Switches and Hypershield to form a new approach to data center security. It will combine an advanced, AI-native, hardware-accelerated, distributed security architecture directly within the data center fabric to:
Provide security that's melted into the data center network. Hypershield embedded in the switching layer reduces the number of appliances and allows data center operators to create a 'micro perimeter' around each service that makes up a workload.
Enable autonomous segmentation policies. Customers can benefit from automatically updating security policies to the right enforcement points, ensuring consistent security with minimal manual effort.
Keep security posture up to date reducing disruption. Organizations can minimize risks and drive policy lifecycle management at scale by using self-qualifying policy updates before deployment.
Easily extend consistent policy enforcement across multiple domains. With the ability to manage policies consistently across a library of enforcement points in the cloud, on-prem, and on traditional next-gen firewalls, customers now have a single management system with Cisco Hybrid Mesh Firewall.
Manage network and security workflows with persona-driven operations. The solution seamlessly integrated into existing processes, and supports common and separate workflows for NetOps, SecOps, or NetSecOps teams using a single solution to maintain connectivity and security.
Fusing security directly into the data center network changes the fundamentals of data center security. Combined with Cisco Firewall Threat Defense, new AI Defense capabilities, and Security Cloud Control, Cisco will offer the first Hybrid Mesh Firewall optimized to protect AI applications in the data center and public cloud.
General Availability
The first available Cisco N9300 Smart Switch, which features 24 100G ports, is targeted for shipment in spring 2025. A top-of-rack model, which will feature 48 25G ports, two 100G ports, and six 400G ports, is targeted for first availability in summer 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
an hour ago
- Khaleej Times
Meet Mindvalley's EVE: The AI companion built for emotional intelligence
In an age where artificial intelligence (AI) has started to write our emails, plan our schedules, and act as our personal coach or cheerleader, we must ask the question: Is AI also going to show us real emotion some day? A friend recently shared her frustration after receiving a generic AI-generated email from her boss congratulating her on 20 years with the company. 'It didn't feel sincere,' she said. 'I could tell that it was outsourced.' And so, we find ourselves at a crossroads, where AI is no longer going to remain just a tool of efficiency, it is going to participate in our emotional and relational lives. In the thick of this quandary comes the announcement of EVE, by Mindvalley, a breakthrough in AI. For Vishen Lakhiani, founder of the global personal growth platform, this is 'the most emotionally meaningful project' he has ever worked on. Named after his daughter, Eve, the announcement makes a bold statement that technology, when built with empathy, can become an extension of our humanity. The 'how', we're yet to see. EVE is also an acronym for Everyone Elevates, encapsulating its mission to guide users towards their highest selves. 'Most AI today is built to help you do more. EVE is built to help you become more,' Vishen explains. 'She's designed to form memories about you, to understand your goals, motivations, psychology, and who you're becoming. And then, in the most brilliant, empathetic, and understanding way, guide you towards your greatest potential.' Unlike productivity bots or transactional assistants, EVE is designed to be rooted in wisdom. Leveraging the collective teachings of over a hundred Mindvalley experts — from biohacker Dave Asprey to hypnotherapist Marisa Peer and transformational speaker Lisa Nichols — EVE is designed to reflect this wisdom judiciously. 'It's a distillation of the world's leading minds in health, mindset, and human potential, brought to life through an interface that serves not your schedule, but your soul.' How emotion sensing works One of EVE's most intriguing promises is Emotional Intelligence. While current iterations focus on content recommendations and practice reminders, Mindvalley envisions a future where EVE integrates seamlessly with wearable technology such as Apple Watch, WHOOP, Ultrahuman and the like, to sense your physiological state in real time. But how does this work and what data is collected, that is the burning question. With your explicit permission, EVE will pull biometric data from your connected wearables: heart rate variability (HRV), galvanic skin response, body temperature, sleep cycles, and stress markers. Each of these data points acts as a window into your emotional and physical state. HRV, for example, is a powerful measure of nervous system health and stress resilience. Skin conductivity can indicate anxiety spikes. And put together, these signals help EVE build an understanding of your moment-to-moment reality. 'Your body tells a story,' Vishen says. 'And with the right intelligence, we can respond before burnout hits, before your nervous system crashes.' That said, the long-term vision is even more holistic. EVE will be able to interpret data not only from wearables but also your medical history, supplement stack, dietary inputs, and bloodwork, all aggregated to give personalised, real-time recommendations. It's a move from generic wellness advice to an intuitive feedback loop that understands what you need, when you need it, with emotional precision. The ethics of emotional data Yet, as some would say: 'With great potential comes great responsibility'. Vishen is clear on the ethical guardrails. Mindvalley builds to European General Data Protection Regulation standards, prioritising user data sovereignty over ambition. 'We once explored building emotion-detection features into EVE. But as we looked deeper, we realised that the European Union may move to ban AI systems that interpret emotions in real time. Even though our intention was to use this for good, we abandoned that path. We chose to prioritise ethics over ambition.' For now, EVE will not manipulate, but only reflect, and her nudges are based entirely on the goals you've set yourself, reminding you of who you already said you wanted to become. And crucially, your data always remains yours. AI for more soul time, not screen time Looking ahead, Vishen envisions AI becoming ambient, integrated into homes, cars, headphones, even daily surroundings in invisible ways. But his vision will always remain human-first. 'Imagine your AI notices your gait is slightly off and suggests balance training before it becomes a fall risk. For the elderly, that's lifesaving. But this isn't about replacing human connection. It's about deepening it.' At Mindvalley, EVE is still in beta mode, with emotion-sensing features and integrations rolling out over the next six months. Early testers report greater adherence to practices, deeper course immersion, and a feeling of being truly supported. But Vishen is quick to note that the breakthroughs come from human wisdom itself; EVE simply ensures you find the right guidance at the right time. Perhaps that is the true promise of EVE. Not an AI to make you do more tasks, but an emotionally sound companion that helps you live more consciously, connect more deeply, and rise into the human being you were always meant to be. As Vishen says: 'The ultimate goal is not more screen time, but more soul time.'
Zawya
3 hours ago
- Zawya
Oman can leverage AI to boost transparency
SALALAH - Secure and targeted use of artificial intelligence can help Oman's government and private sector enhance transparency, performance, and citizen engagement, according to Jennifer McGinty, founder and director of McGinty Consulting. On her first visit to Oman, McGinty speak at the Labour Forum 2025, organised by the Ministry of Labour, on how AI can be used effectively and safely. She said her aim was to introduce employees to practical tools while stressing the importance of data security. 'I have a lot of experience working with large private companies such as Indeed, Bain & Company, Deloitte, and USAID, which excel in using AI tools. But I've noticed that in the Middle East, North Africa, and even the U.S., government agencies are far behind,' she told the Observer. 'If they are using AI tools, they are often not using them in a safe and secure way. Some are putting proprietary information — private data about citizens and their governments — into public AI platforms that are not securely stored.' McGinty said Oman's Vision 2040 — particularly its focus on youth employment — offers an excellent opportunity to use digital platforms to connect young people with government programmes. 'Oman has a great opportunity to use these AI tools to communicate directly with citizens — through emails, public platforms, or social media,' she said. 'I hope the Ministry of Labour will take some of these tools and use them to improve communication.' For decision-makers, especially in AI departments across ministries and in the private sector, she recommended starting with a needs-based or baseline study. 'You have to understand what employees are spending their time on and where they need help. Without that, you risk buying 20 different AI tools, and people will only use one or two — which is a waste of money,' she explained. Praising Oman as 'one of the most hospitable places' she has visited, McGinty added: 'People here are so respectful, much more than in many other countries I've been to. I'm very impressed.' 2025 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
3 hours ago
- Zawya
In the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Slop, Trust is a Human Advantage (By Bas Wijne)
By Bas Wijne, CEO, APO Group AI-generated content is flooding the internet, and much of it is low-quality and misleading. Editors call it 'AI slop': hallucinated quotes, fake press releases, and algorithm-chasing headlines. In an era where content is cheaper and faster than ever, trust has become the rarest commodity. That's where professional public relations – once accused of 'spin' – is playing a new, unexpected role: safeguarding credibility in a post-truth landscape. AI has a place, but it doesn't replace people Let me be clear: AI isn't the enemy. It's a powerful tool for information analysis, workflows, and insight. But it has limits. Besides the slop factor, the phenomenon of model collapse – AI models producing increasingly inaccurate results as they are trained on the outputs of earlier models – is a looming risk. In this context, two pillars of PR – direct executive access and verified press releases – are lifelines for journalists and the public. AI can mimic a CEO's tone. It can generate a passable quote. It can even create a fake press release that looks real on first glance. But it cannot replicate what matters most: A real interview, with real stakes A direct connection to a decision-maker A verified statement backed by accountability A local voice who understands the nuance, not just the keywords Delivering news you can trust APO Group ( is proud to be the largest pan-African PR and communications consultancy and Africa's only dedicated press release and media content distribution provider, through our proprietary newswire Africa Newsroom ( In the absence of a pan-African regulatory authority equivalent to the UK's Financial Conduct Authority, Africa Newsroom serves as the de facto Primary Information Provider for Africa: an outlet trusted to deliver official, verifiable corporate and public sector communications across the continent. Every piece of content distributed by Africa Newsroom is reviewed, optimised, and traceable by our team. On the PR side, when our team arranges an interview between a journalist and an African minister or facilitates a press briefing with the CEO of a global firm expanding into Nairobi or Abidjan, we're doing something AI can't: building trust through human access. In just the past month, we've facilitated over 200 executive interviews for brands like Coca-Cola and Canon – connecting journalists to real decision-makers rather than AI-generated personas. That's not automation. It's deep relationship work. Press releases still matter – when they're done right Too many people write off the press release as an outdated format. But when done well – fact-checked, compliant, attributed, and distributed to the right people at the right time – a press release becomes something else entirely: a verified signal in a noisy, synthetic world. The trust cascade: PR → Journalists → Public The recent fallout from OpenAI's indexing scandal – where shared ChatGPT conversations were found discoverable via Google Search – is a stark reminder of what happens when content is detached from context, consent and control. Public confidence took a hit, and brands using shared links for internal communications or published content are still scrambling to contain the damage. When information ecosystems break down, trust becomes a chain reaction. PR plays a key role in this cascade: We provide credible inputs: real people, real quotes, real data Journalists vet and amplify those insights The public consumes the final story with confidence it came from somewhere accountable Without that initial layer of professional PR, we risk a content ecosystem built on synthetic sand. Why this matters even more in Africa AI-generated misinformation is a global issue, but its effects are sharper in emerging markets, especially across Africa. Here, independent media outlets are often underfunded, and institutional trust is fragile. The damage from fake news – amplified by generative AI – can be reputational, political, financial. Even existential. This is why APO Group exists: to bridge the gap between credible African stories and the global media ecosystem. Human truth is the competitive edge The future of communications isn't human or AI. It's both. But right now, only one side builds relationships. Only one side is accountable. Only one side engages with intent when the story matters. At APO Group, we'll keep investing in technology. But our core belief won't change: the most trusted content still starts with real people. Our combination of professional PR and trusted, continent-wide media distribution offers something rare: scale and trust. Reach and rigour. The ability to connect journalists to real sources – in all 54 African countries – at a time when bots are flooding inboxes with synthetic noise. That's our commitment to our clients, to the media, and to the public. And in the age of AI slop, that's what makes the difference. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group Insights. About APO Group: Founded in 2007, APO Group ( is the leading pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service. Renowned for our deep-rooted African expertise and expansive global perspective, we specialise in elevating the reputation and brand equity of private and public organisations across Africa. As a trusted partner, our mission is to harness the power of media, crafting bespoke strategies that drive tangible, measurable impact both on the continent and globally. Our commitment to excellence and innovation has been recognised with multiple prestigious awards, including a PRovoke Media Global SABRE Award, and multiple PRovoke Media Africa SABRE Awards. In 2023, we were named the Leading Public Relations Firm in Africa and the Leading Pan-African Communications Consultancy Africa in the World Business Outlook Awards, and the Best Public Relations and Media Consultancy of the Year South Africa in 2024 in the same awards. In 2025, Brands Review Magazine acknowledged us as the Leading Communications Consultancy in Africa for the second consecutive year. They also named us the Best PR Agency and the Leading Press Release Distribution Platform in Africa in 2024. Additionally, in 2025, we were honoured with the Gold distinction for Best PR Campaign and Bronze in the Special Event category at the Davos Communications Awards. APO Group's esteemed clientele, which includes global giants such as Canon, Nestlé, Western Union, the UNDP, Network International, African Energy Chamber, Mercy Ships, Marriott, Africa's Business Heroes, and Liquid Intelligent Technologies, reflects our unparalleled ability to navigate the complex African media landscape. With a multicultural team across Africa, we offer unmatched, truly pan-African insights, expertise, and reach across the continent. APO Group is dedicated to reshaping narratives about Africa, challenging stereotypes, and bringing inspiring African stories to global audiences, with our expertise in developing and supporting public relations campaigns worldwide uniquely positioning us to amplify brand messaging, enhance reputations, and connect effectively with target audiences.
