Forward Networks, a pioneer in network digital twin technology, today unveiled Forward AI, a new capability designed to help network, security, and cloud teams safely adopt AI-driven operations. Built on a mathematically accurate digital twin of the network, Forward AI allows IT teams and AI agents to ask complex questions, validate outcomes, and automate workflows with confidence.
As enterprises accelerate AI adoption, network complexity is increasing, while headcount remains largely flat. Forward AI addresses the challenge by giving teams trusted, evidence-backed insights, reducing reliance on assumptions, spreadsheets, and tribal knowledge.
AI That Understands Your Network
“When we founded Forward Networks, we asked a simple but critical question: does the network behave as intended in production?” said David Erickson, CEO and co-founder. “Answering that requires more than visibility. Forward AI builds on our digital twin foundation to allow enterprises to safely reason about networks, validate outcomes, and act with confidence. This is how AI becomes a trusted partner in operating critical infrastructure.”
Extending the Power of Digital Twins
Led by co-founder Nikhil Handigol, newly appointed Chief AI Officer, Forward AI expands the Forward Enterprise platform’s capabilities. Handigol, a named inventor on eight network-related patents, emphasized that the platform enables teams to reason transparently about network behavior, validate AI recommendations, and automate workflows safely.
Forward AI establishes a foundation for safe adoption of agentic AI in network operations. Each recommendation comes with clear evidence, allowing teams to inspect data, verify reasoning, and maintain the safeguards critical to enterprise networks.
“Forward Enterprise already gives us a trusted view of our network state,” said a senior director of network and security architecture at a leading financial services firm. “Forward AI takes that further—allowing anyone on the team to ask natural-language questions and get verified insights. It dramatically lowers the barrier to understanding and operating the network efficiently.”
Supporting Third-Party Agentic Tools
Forward AI extends its verification framework beyond the platform through Model Context Protocol (MCP) support, enabling enterprises and third-party developers to build agentic tools grounded in accurate, always-current network data.
“Forward AI strengthens trust in AI by providing full transparency into how recommendations are generated,” said Bob Laliberte, principal analyst for networking and observability at theCUBE Research. “Exposing AI reasoning keeps humans in the loop, builds confidence, and improves operational efficiency.”
Forward AI will be included in the Forward Enterprise platform, with general availability slated for April 2026, giving IT teams a new standard for trustworthy, AI-assisted network operations.
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