Artificial Intelligence – AI - conjures images of science fiction films and human-like robots, but the reality is that it is already part of our world. The basic idea of AI is that it is technology that is capable of making decisions autonomously – without human input – and it does that by collecting up masses of data, learning from it – a process known as "machine learning" – and then using the "knowledge" that it has acquired to make decisions when faced with new data sets.

IoT, meanwhile, is definitionally simple, but complex in action; IoT simply means devices that are connected to the Internet wirelessly, but it generally refers to a lot of devices being connected simultaneously. Where once a network of connected devices would be PCs and perhaps mobile devices, now environments are filled with connected sensors, equipment, machines, security systems and even lightbulbs. By 2025, there will be 30.9 billion connected devices, showing just how pervasive this technology will be.

IoT and AI share a symbiotic relationship. IoT is a key source of real-time data, collected with the equipment in operation. That data can be used by AI devices to train them to handle more complex tasks through machine learning. AI, meanwhile, can be subsequently used to control IoT-powered devices.

For a simple example of how this might work in operation, consider self-driving cars. Self-driving cars need to be powered by AI (so it can drive on the road and get the passengers to their location safely), and that AI needs to be "trained" using an incredible amount of data – ideally, billions of hour's worth of real-world driving data. Once trained, though, the car itself will operate as an IoT device – it will be connected to the Internet, and the AI would be delivered to the car over that Internet network.

One of the things that has held back complex applications of AI and IoT has been the limits of our current cellular network (4G), but 5G changes all that – leading to that innovation that Jason Hilner was referring to in the event a few years ago. 5G has three particular qualities that are essential to both IoT and AI.

-         Mobility – 5G networks, once fully rolled out, will be available everywhere there's a mobile signal. This means that location stops being an issue – where fixed wireless networks have a limited range, 5G can allow all applications to operate from anywhere, and therefore be mobile.

-         Speed – 5G can deliver speeds of as high as 10Gbps, and can be as much as 100 times faster than the speeds available on 4G. 4G wasn't sufficient to handle the sheer amount of data that an environment that is filled with connected devices, all transmitting and receiving data, but 5G can offer the necessary speeds.

-         Near-zero latency – 4G networks featured latency of around 30ms to 70ms. 5G latency is between 5ms and 20ms. To most of us, that difference isn't noticeable, but when it comes to streaming technology, it makes all the difference. Taking our autonomous car example above; any latency means the slightest delay between an AI device making a decision and the IoT device acting on it. If the car isn't responding to the AI in near real-time, then there's every chance that it will react too slowly, causing accidents and risking lives. 5G's low latency enables the kind of real-time operation that is necessary for advanced IoT and AI applications.

Together, IoT and AI unlock a new level of innovation that will deliver value across all sectors. Whether it's simple, productivity-boosting applications that are achieved by handing mundane, repetitive tasks over to AI, or it's technology that handles dangerous or challenging tasks in extreme conditions, these technologies are the future of IT. Underpinning their success will be the 5G network, as the first connectivity solution that gives organisations the combination of speed, low latency and mobility that can properly unlock the innovative potential of these technologies. Of course, once your organisation has deployed AI and IoT technologies on a 5G network, you need for that network to be reliable and robust so that your critical applications aren't affected. Contact Spintel today to learn more about delivering an AI and IoT-ready network environment.