Increasingly, businesses and industries are integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) into their operations, and customers are raising their expectations around the impacts these technologies will have. Smart devices are already in use in healthcare and the public sector, and the horizon seems to extend every day.
Businesses have to find ways to get ahead—and stay ahead—of the competition. Combining the capabilities of 5G-enabled AI and IoT technologies can create fast, reliable, secure solutions that improve inefficiencies. They can work together to automate and transform the way business is done, dramatically reducing process cycle times and minimizing human error along the way.
AI and IoT, powered by 5G
AI in business needs data—massive amounts of data. The IoT is effectively a network of thousands of sensor devices that can continually generate huge quantities of data. Devices connected to the IoT can measure and monitor data in real time; through machine learning algorithms, AI can rapidly analyze that data to unearth insights and patterns that can be used to make better decisions—and make them faster.
But it is more complicated than just plugging one system into another.
AI in business requires a high-bandwidth, low-latency network. Increased data volumes strain network bandwidth, creating traffic jams that increase the delay between signal and response. Reduced latency and massive bandwidth also help IoT devices generate and harness huge amounts of data and drive advanced AI programs.
Speed is also critical to unlocking the full benefits of AI and the IoT. Without enough speed, machines can't act based on the conclusions drawn from the data they collect. Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband uses the 28 and 39 GHz spectrum bands—much higher than 4G networks, which use frequencies between 700 and 2500 MHz to transfer information, and Wi-Fi, which operates at 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies. This operating frequency level widens the highway that data travels on, potentially supporting gigabit per second speeds.
AI and IoT applications
The concepts behind powerful technology are important, but it is their real-world uses that really matter, and AI is already at work in a wide range of industries.
Advances in healthcare
Brain-computer interfaces use AI algorithms to translate brain signals into command outcomes so that people with motor impairments can control assistive devices such as wheelchairs or prosthetic limbs. Low-latency 5G helps the interfaces respond in near real time, leveraging machine learning technologies through a high volume of data collected from sensors and translated to natural movements that match human responses.
Soon, AI in business will enable real-time remote patient monitoring and give instant feedback to physicians for rapid diagnosis. The speed of data transmission and analytics could also dramatically improve staff response times to critical changes in patients' conditions.
A smarter public sector
Smart streetlights can improve energy efficiency and lighting quality while collecting data that can be leveraged for critical insights, whether that means alerting city planners to recurring traffic problems or supporting public safety officials in an emergency. Backed by the high capacity variant of 5G, cities can deploy machine learning algorithms to quickly process this data from IoT sensors and analyze it to guide optimal responses.
Considerations when deploying AI and the IoT
If you're considering implementing AI and the IoT, there are important factors to consider.
- Will the implementation of AI and the IoT require you to update and upgrade your network?
- Will integrating your business with a 5G network raise any new security concerns?
- Have you found the right external partner to help you upgrade your system?
The proliferation of 5G presents the ideal opportunity to leverage what the IoT and AI in business can do to set you apart from the competition. Realizing the benefits of these transformative technologies can position your company at the forefront of the market.
Learn how Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband can help you reimagine your business.
The author of this content is a paid contributor for Verizon.