Controlling an optical bypass switch in a data center based on a neural network output result

A flow of packets is communicated through a data center including an electrical switch, an optical switch, and multiple racks each including multiple network devices. The optical switch can be controlled to receive packet traffic from a network device via a first optical link and to output that packet traffic to another network device via a second optical link. One network device includes a neural network that analyzes received packets of the flow. The optical switch is controlled to switch based on a result of the analysis performed. In one instance, the optical switch is controlled such that immediately prior to the switching no packet traffic passes from the first optical link and through the optical switch and to the second optical link but such that after the switching packet traffic does pass from the first optical link and through the optical switch and to the second optical link.