Let’s talk about 5G and AI

Mobile carriers are rolling out 5G networks and smartphone manufacturers like Apple are retooling their devices to take advantage of the new mobile standard. 5G networks offer devices access to more bandwidth, enabling faster download speeds that could eventually hit up to 10 gigabits per second (Gbps) and gigabit/s upload speeds.

In addition to faster speeds, 5G is having a positive impact on the evolution of artificial intelligence, with smartphone manufacturers and developers moving to build more powerful AI applications. Indeed, upgrading smartphones and tablets to include new 5G and AI capabilities are both very important to an industry eager to unlock future revenue streams. Current Apple devices include an AI engine (aka the neural engine), for example, as part of the Apple A12 Bionic chip.

CLICK TO TWEET:  CommScope’s Mike Wolfe explains how the rollout of 5G is having a positive impact on the evolution of artificial intelligence.

AI capable 5G smartphones and tablets can potentially usher in a new era of applications that will be enabled by distributed processing – with certain real-time AI aspects performed on the device, and the rest pushed to the cloud.  

Mobile or network edge computing is another element of future networks that will play an important role in low latency applications like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). This trend can be viewed as a further realization and benefit of Moore’s Law, which has seen more and more computing power packed into new devices every day.

Let’s recall that earlier computing advances, coupled with 4G/LTE technology, enabled the pervasive use of streaming video on mobile devices, along with other bandwidth intensive media-based applications on smartphones and tablets. Similarly, the rollout of faster 5G networks and the evolution of AI capabilities will unlock the ability to develop more powerful applications.

What might we see, specifically:

• The rising maturity of autonomous systems for passenger and delivery vehicles on the road and robotic platforms in factories and warehouses
• VR and AR applications for multiple and diverse markets including manufacturing, engineering, medical, and eSports
• Improved situational awareness and diagnostics – including data fusion and analytics – for first responders and healthcare providers
• Smart city and smart campus/building applications

In summary, the rollout of 5G is having a positive impact on the evolution of artificial intelligence, as both smartphone manufacturers and mobile developers eye a new generation of powerful AI capabilities and applications.