#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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// Repo Link REFERENCE //
github.com/kiskander/iris

// Website REFERENCE //
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