Cisco has announced Cisco Unified Edge as an integrated platform to run distributed AI workloads where data is created – from retail stores, factory floors and healthcare sites.
The system integrates compute, networking, storage and security in a modular chassis and is orderable now, with general availability expected by year-end.
“Today’s infrastructure can’t meet the demands of powering AI at scale,” Jeetu Patel, president and chief product officer at Cisco, said. “As AI agents and experiences proliferate, they will naturally emerge closer to where customers interact and decisions are made.”
Cisco said agentic AI queries can generate up to 25× more network traffic than a chatbot, shifting data-center loads from bursts to sustained intensity. Management is centralized through Cisco Intersight with Splunk and ThousandEyes integrations; security includes tamper-resistant features and zero-trust controls.
Cisco listed ecosystem participants and early users including Intel, Verizon, Rockwell Automation and World Wide Technology, and positioned Unified Edge as an extension of its AI compute and networking portfolio.
