Plano-based tech company Ribbon Communications (Nasdaq: RBBN) brought AI professional Priyanka Kharat aboard as head of its AI-powered autonomous networking business.

As senior vice president, Kharat oversees Ribbon’s Acumen unit. The company launched Acumen, a platform for autonomous voice and data networking, in 2025.

Ribbon said Acumen features ready-made apps and AI agents, plus a builder tool that enables customers to develop their own networking apps and workflows.

“Priyanka possesses a strong AI pedigree, coupled with a deep understanding of how to build an AI growth engine with a combination of agentic AI and autonomous decision-making, that will drive our Acumen business forward in alignment with market dynamics and customer demand,” Bruce McClelland, president and CEO of Ribbon, said in a statement. 

“Throughout her career, she has helped grow businesses by applying AI and data technologies across health care, medical devices, semiconductors and enterprise software.”

Kharat most recently was vice president and general manager of Skylar AI at Reston, Virginia-based ScienceLogic. Skylar AI is an agentic AI platform that acts as the intelligence layer for IT operations. ScienceLogic provides software for IT management.

No ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach

Kharat told Dallas Innovates that one of her challenges at Ribbon involves translating AI innovation “into trusted, measurable outcomes in environments where reliability, security and control are non-negotiable.” 

But, Kharat said, there’s no “one-size-fits-all” way to equip Ribbon customers with AI tools.

“Customers have different infrastructures, AI investments and operational requirements. Our approach is to meet them where they are, with an open multivendor architecture that works with existing systems, supports their choice of AI models, and embeds governance and human oversight into operational workflows,” she said.

About Ribbon

Ribbon provides voice communications software, along with IP routing and optical networking tools and services, to service providers, large organizations and infrastructure operators.

In fiscal year 2025, the company reported revenue of $845 million, up from $834 million the previous year.

Ribbon was formed in 2017 through the merger of Genband and Sonus Networks. It later expanded with its acquisition of ECI Telecom.