#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. // Kareem Iskander’s SOCIAL // LinkedIn: / kiskander X:Chttps://x.com/kareem_isk // Repo Link REFERENCE // https://github.com/kiskander/iris // Website REFERENCE // https://u.cisco.com/tutorials // David's SOCIAL // Discord: discord.com/invite/usKSyzb Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbombal Instagram: www.instagram.com/davidbombal LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/davidbombal Facebook: www.facebook.com/davidbombal.co TikTok: tiktok.com/@davidbombal YouTube: / @davidbombal Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3f6k6gE... SoundCloud: / davidbombal Apple Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... // MY STUFF // https://www.amazon.com/shop/davidbombal // SPONSORS // Interested in sponsoring my videos? Reach out to my team here: sponsors@davidbombal.com // 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 Please note that links listed may be affiliate links and provide me with a small percentage/kickback should you use them to purchase any of the items listed or recommended. Thank you for supporting me and this channel! Disclaimer: This video is for educational purposes only. #ai #claudeskills #aiautomation