Cisco debuts unified edge platform for distributed agentic AI workloads

Cisco has unveiled Cisco Unified Edge, an integrated computing platform for distributed AI workloads.

Cisco Unified Edge brings together compute, networking, storage, and security closer to the data for real-time AI inferencing and agentic workloads.

Full-stack, converged architecture unifies compute, storage, and even networking into a single platform, supported by an extensive partner ecosystem. The modular chassis offers CPU and GPU configurations, redundant power and cooling, high-performance SD-WAN networks and pre-validated designs.

Zero-touch deployment and pre-validated blueprints deliver accelerated AI rollouts. Centralised management via Cisco Intersight and automated fleetwide operations aim to simplify scaling, troubleshooting, and upgrades without needing on-site specialist skills, and with Splunk and ThousandEyes integrations, customers can get end-to-end observability. 

Tamper-proof features, deep telemetry, consistent policies and drift-free configurations help ensure resilience, while audit trails safeguard compliance as operations scale. Security is built-in at the device level and can extend to applying zero trust to every access, segmentation, and protect applications and AI models.

Cisco Unified Edge platforms are orderable now and are expected to be generally available by the end of the year.

"Today’s infrastructure can’t meet the demands of powering AI at scale,” said Jeetu Patel, president and chief product officer at Cisco.

“As AI agents and experiences proliferate, they will naturally emerge closer to where customers interact and decisions are made – the branch office, retail store, factory floor, stadium, and more. That’s where compute needs to live.

"With our Unified Edge we’re making it easier to power AI in the real world with flexible, secure systems that are simple to deploy, operate, and scale as demand grows.”