Latest news with #KyleJ.Russell
USA Today
13-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
The Shift to Network Intelligence: How AI is Reshaping Digital Infrastructure
Kyle J. Russell Contributor Modern networks have outgrown traditional network monitoring. The rapid expansion of cloud-based applications, remote work, and decentralized operations has made managing networks more complex than ever. In response, businesses are turning to Network Intelligence, a new approach that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to not only observe networks but actively optimize them. For industries that rely on real-time connectivity—whether in logistics, streaming services, or online marketplaces—network reliability is critical. A slowdown or outage can disrupt operations, causing revenue loss and frustrated customers. Traditional monitoring tools were built for a different era; one where networks were simpler, and troubleshooting was a manual process. As digital ecosystems expand, companies need a more adaptive, proactive approach to network management. From Network Monitoring to Network Intelligence Network monitoring has historically been reactive: engineers sift through logs, interpret cryptic alerts, and manually trace the source of problems. This approach often leads to delayed resolutions and inefficient troubleshooting. 'Networks have become this complex organism of clouds, data centers, and SaaS applications, all connected by the internet as the new backbone,' says Christoph Pfister, Chief Product Officer at Kentik. 'Managing that complexity requires more than just dashboards and alerts – it requires intelligence.' This shift is where Network Intelligence comes in. Rather than waiting for an issue to escalate, AI-powered systems continuously analyze network behavior, identify anomalies, and even predict potential failures before they happen. AI's Role in Network Optimization The integration of AI into network management has transformed how businesses operate. AI-driven systems can: Detect anomalies in real-time: AI recognizes unusual patterns in traffic flow, helping teams address potential outages before they escalate. Predict network issues: Machine learning models analyze past incidents and forecast possible future disruptions. Optimize performance automatically: AI can recommend (and, in some cases, execute) changes to improve network efficiency. Take, for example, cloud-based applications that require large amounts of data to be transferred across different regions. An AI-powered network intelligence system can detect inefficiencies—such as unnecessary routing delays or misconfigured traffic paths—and suggest ways to optimize data flow. These adjustments reduce costs, improve performance, and free up engineers for higher-level problem-solving. A New Era: AI as a Digital Network Engineer As AI capabilities evolve, businesses are moving beyond simple automation toward what some call "agentic AI"—AI that can act as a digital network engineer. Instead of just identifying problems, these AI systems are learning to make decisions and take corrective actions within predefined guardrails. 'We're imagining a world where network insights are no longer limited to network experts,' says Pfister. 'Where AI augments engineers, increasing their productivity and reducing troubleshooting time.' A major step in this direction is natural language interaction with network data. Traditionally, engineers needed deep technical expertise to query and interpret network logs. Now, generative AI tools allow teams to simply ask the system a question—such as 'Why is traffic latency high in this region?'—and receive a precise, actionable response. For global companies, this also means overcoming language barriers. Some teams are now using AI-driven network intelligence in multiple languages, allowing engineers to diagnose and resolve issues without needing to be fluent in the system's primary programming language. Beyond Automation: The Future of Network Intelligence While AI-driven networking is still developing, businesses are already seeing significant efficiency gains. Companies that previously relied on manual investigations are now resolving network issues in a fraction of the time. One major shift is the ability to delegate network troubleshooting across teams. Instead of overwhelming IT departments with routine network inquiries, companies are integrating AI-powered chat systems that allow non-technical employees to ask simple network-related questions and receive instant answers—without needing direct intervention from engineers. Still, full automation remains a gradual process. While AI can suggest fixes and predict future issues, many organizations prefer to keep a human in the loop, ensuring that AI-driven changes align with broader IT strategies. The Competitive Advantage of Network Intelligence The evolution from network monitoring to network intelligence is more than just an upgrade—it's becoming a necessity for businesses that rely on always-on connectivity. Whether managing e-commerce platforms, cloud-based collaboration tools, or global logistics networks, companies are realizing that a proactive, AI-driven approach to network management is no longer optional. As the industry moves forward, the focus will be on how AI can work alongside engineers, rather than replacing them. The ability to process vast amounts of data, provide real-time insights, and automate routine tasks will redefine what it means to manage a modern network. 'Network Intelligence isn't just about solving problems faster,' Pfister adds. 'It's about making network management more accessible, more efficient, and ultimately, more intelligent.'
USA Today
29-01-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Ariel Dangelo Turned Personal Tragedy into a Mission to Aid Individuals with Financial Wellbeing with Helo
Kyle J. Russell Contributor In the aftermath of a life-altering tragedy, Ariel Dangelo found an unshakable purpose. A near-fatal horse-riding accident in 2020 left her paralyzed from the shoulders down, with no guarantee she'd ever walk again. Yet, against all odds, Ariel regained her mobility. While her story of physical recovery is extraordinary, it is the financial foundation she built beforehand that truly defined her outcome. 'I was 27 when this happened and couldn't do anything myself,' she recalls. 'But because my husband and I had already paid off our house, built a substantial emergency fund, and lived within our means, I could afford the treatments and therapies I needed—even the ones insurance couldn't cover. Most people aren't that stable, especially those like us who don't have financial assistance from their family.' This realization that the majority of Americans are just one unexpected event away from financial ruin ignited Ariel's mission to make financial stability accessible to everyone. That mission took shape in Helo, a revolutionary financial software designed to empower users to take control of their money and their futures. Helo is not just another 'budgeting tool'; it is a comprehensive financial management system. The app teaches users how to live within their means through their smart banking platform which allocates their income to strategically save, and live a financially sustainable life, all while having a positive relationship with money. The journey began with Ariel's first company, Nightingale Wealth Solutions, a women-owned fiduciary financial advisory firm specializing in helping families and high-net-worth individuals achieve their financial goals. Yet this financial advisor-innovator, who has been in the industry for more than a decade, noticed a pattern: no matter how much money her clients earned, few had a clear understanding of their expenses. Ariel further explains, 'Everyone can tell you what they make, but almost no one can tell you how much they spend. Would you take advice from a CFO who could only tell you the revenue of a business and not the operating costs? Without understanding the expenses, how will one make informed decisions?' She realized this knowledge gap wasn't limited to her affluent clients; it was a systematic issue affecting households across the economic spectrum. Meanwhile, predatory financial products such as earned wage access programs and buy-now-pay-later schemes were exacerbating the problem. 'Helo was born out of necessity,' Ariel says. 'I wanted to create a tool that doesn't just manage money but transforms the way people interact with it—building lasting habits that eventually lead to financial freedom.' Helo stands out by combining behavioral science with cutting-edge technology to address financial health holistically, and for all ages—whether it's a Gen-Zer who has just started working or is at their peak as a professional, to retirees who want to sustain until the end of time. With its offerings such as automated cash flow management, emergence fund creation, debt reduction tools, and comprehensive financial insights, Helo is giving its users a lifeline. Ariel's personal experience, analytical mind, and decade-long industry expertise give her a unique perspective on this urgency for financial preparedness. She notes, 'People don't understand the importance of having an emergency fund until it's too late. I dream that, in my lifetime, every American family has a 10-thousand-dollar emergency fund. That level of security changes lives.' Since its inception, Helo has been steadily gaining traction. The platform has already launched the Beta version in the web-based application format, with a premium version of the same along with the mobile app slated for release in Q1 of 2025. But Ariel's ambitions don't stop there. 'In the next three years, we plan to start our global expansion of Helo. Our ultimate goal is to make financial wellness a global standard.' Helo's tagline, 'For a Better Future', encapsulates its ethos: empowering users to master their finances through smarter habits and innovative technology. 'Helo is not just another fintech App trying to sell you something, we are protecting our client's data, protecting our client's financial interests, we are protecting people from the little spending goblin within all of us. Empowering individuals, strengthening families, and cultivating better communities, leads to a healthier Nation and brighter future,' the visionary founder concludes. Helo is also in the midst of its second capital raise, which the startup will use to build out its sales and marketing capabilities. If you are interested in investing, please reach out to invest@
