#589: How to run an AI agent INSIDE your network CLI for 2026

Big thanks to Cisco for sponsoring this video and sponsoring my trip to Cisco Live Vegas 2026.

Network engineers, are you ready for 2026? Learn how to deploy an AI agent directly into your CLI using Cisco MCP and Claude to automate network configurations safely. In this tutorial with Karim from Cisco, we explore how to build a custom AI skill (Iris) using Anthropic's Claude Code and Cisco's Model Context Protocol (MCP). Watch how an agent can live in your terminal to automatically read ServiceNow tickets, discover network topologies, propose BGP/firewall changes, and execute commands while keeping a "human in the loop" to prevent hallucinations. Perfect for CCNA/CCIE candidates and anyone looking to learn agentic AI without adopting complex Python programmability.

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https://github.com/kiskander/iris

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https://u.cisco.com/tutorials

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// MENU //

0:00 - Coming Up

0:39 - Intro

01:57 - Why Network Engineers Are Returning to the CLI

03:24 - The Real Cost of AI Token Usage

04:10 - What Is an Agent Skill?

05:17 - Network Automation Use Case: AWS to On-Prem Connectivity

07:40 - Building Iris, an AI Network Agent

09:17 - Setting AI Safety Rules and Defining the Workflow

12:17 - Security, Local Models and Private AI Environments

15:16 - Using Existing Automation Playbooks with AI

16:34 - Live Demo: Running Iris in the CLI

18:34 - Using AI to Analyse CLI Commands and Logs

20:11 - Using Iris to Read ServiceNow Tickets and Plan Network Changes

22:06 - AI, CCIE Skills and Firewall Recommendations

25:18 - Getting Iris from GitHub, Safety Concerns and Learning Resources

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Disclaimer: This video is for educational purposes only.

#ai #claudeskills #aiautomation