HPE touts self-driving networks as AI adoption grows

HPE used its Networking Day in Sydney to highlight self-driving networks, arguing that advances in AI and automation are moving the technology into wider use.

Senior executives, customers and industry representatives discussed how AI-native networking is changing network operations as businesses manage more AI-driven applications and increasingly distributed IT systems. The event included keynote presentations from Rami Rahim, Executive Vice President, President and General Manager of HPE Networking.

HPE described self-driving networks as systems that can identify, respond to and resolve issues before users are affected. The approach is designed to automate routine network management while giving IT teams visibility over performance and security.

The discussion comes as corporate networks face growing operational pressure. More connected devices, mobile workers and software agents are increasing the number of endpoints organisations must manage, while broader geographic distribution is making infrastructure harder for IT teams to oversee manually.

Andrew Fox, General Manager of HPE Networking for Australia and New Zealand, said the underlying technology had developed over several years.

"Self-driving networks are a reality. What we saw at HPE Networking Day is how years of advances in AI are enabling networks to learn, adapt and resolve issues on their own, and those capabilities continue to improve," Fox said.

Security focus

Network security was a central theme at the event, reflecting how infrastructure teams are reassessing risk as device numbers rise. The expansion of access points has increased the potential attack surface for businesses, adding pressure on teams already managing more complex environments.

That has increased the importance of the networking layer in security strategy, particularly where organisations need to detect unusual activity quickly across multiple locations. In this model, greater automation is intended to reduce reliance on manual monitoring of every incident.

"Networks are becoming more complex, with connected devices, mobile workers and AI agents accessing systems across different locations. That creates more potential points of attack, making the networking layer even more critical as a layer of defence," Fox said.

Wider adoption

The issues discussed are not limited to large enterprises. The shift towards more autonomous network operations has implications for organisations of all sizes, including small and mid-sized businesses that may not have the staff or resources to run complex network environments.

For those organisations, the appeal of self-driving networks lies in reducing the burden on internal teams. Systems that can identify faults early and take corrective action may help businesses maintain service levels without expanding headcount as quickly as their infrastructure grows.

Several organisations contributed to the discussion, including Servers Australia, Lutheran Services Australia and Taronga Conservation Society Australia. Their involvement reflected how network management issues now affect a wide range of sectors, from service providers to non-profit and conservation organisations.

The conversations focused on how AI is changing operational and technology demands. Topics ranged from reducing complexity in network administration to improving day-to-day performance and supporting better experiences for users and customers.

Live demonstrations

The Sydney event also featured a Technology Playground, where attendees were shown networking products and systems in operation. HPE used the area to give customers and partners a practical view of how automation and AI can be applied in live network environments.

Fox said the demonstrations helped connect broader industry discussion with visible use cases.

"What made the event particularly valuable was seeing the technology in action, making the insights explored tangible," Fox said.

"The Technology Playground gave attendees the opportunity to see first-hand what these capabilities can do and how they could apply within their own environments," he said.