Telecom networks are evolving into intelligent, cloud-native platforms, but deploying AI close to subscribers remains challenging. This talk presents a practical blueprint for AI-powered Cloud-Native Network Functions (CNFs) running at the 5G edge using K8s and CNCF open-source tooling. We demonstrate how GPU-accelerated inference, event-driven data paths, and GitOps automation enable ultra-low-latency use cases like RAN optimization, anomaly detection, and subscriber analytics.

We share a reference architecture combining:
- k0s for carrier-grade orchestration
- Nephio for declarative CNF automation
- WASM/KataContainers for secure workload isolation

Attendees will learn operational insights for deploying and scaling AI-driven CNFs across distributed edge clusters balancing reliability, sustainability, security, and performance.
This session delivers actionable steps for operators preparing for 6G-era intelligent networks.