The Everything Feed - All Packet Pushers Pods NAN102: Practical Applications for AI in Network Automation
Oct 1, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Ryan Booth, an expert in network automation with experience at Juniper and Abstra, shares his journey from network engineering to AI. He highlights the importance of community and persistence in success and his exploration of AI tools. Ryan delves into practical AI applications for network engineers, discussing retrieval-augmented generation and the importance of domain knowledge over just model building. He offers valuable insights on automating workflows and bridging gaps between network and software teams.
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Career Transition Via Tinkering And Community
- Ryan moved from network engineering into automation and software by learning on his own and taking deliberate steps over years.
- He used startup roles and community involvement to accelerate transitions and find opportunities.
Luck Is Preparation Meeting Opportunity
- Ryan defines luck as the intersection of preparation and opportunity, not a passive event.
- He attributes key career accelerations to being prepared and plugged into the right communities.
Stay Active In The Community
- Stay active in industry communities to spot tools and approaches you can bring into your organization.
- External perspectives accelerate problem solving and career influence.