Artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things are coming together to create a new phenomenon called "AIoT." It means that IoT networks and related endpoints can operate in real-time, self-repair, and provide data and insights with little or no human intervention.

"The combination of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things is changing the way we interact with the world around us," Antonio Grasso explores the rise of AIoT in his latest work, "Towards the Post-Digital Society." "AIoT is the fusion of IoT and artificial intelligence to build intelligent networks and systems that better guide our thinking."

With the convergence of these two profound technologies, real-time applications are emerging. Many companies are learning to use AIoT to "improve the security of real-time data analysis, as it helps detect trends, peaks in demand, or suspicious events, which helps protect user safety during the purchasing process," according to a recent article by Telefónica.

AIoT brings autonomy

In this sense, AIoT "can be defined as a new technology responsible for providing autonomy to physical elements, enabling them to make decisions based on automated learning and analysis," say the authors at Telefónica.

"Another significant example is the use of AIoT in autonomous vehicles," the authors say. "It is installed in onboard computers, cameras, and other connected elements, enabling them to make autonomous decisions based on road conditions, safety, and driving patterns in real-time."

Grasso outlines the evolution of AIoT from its early IoT roots:

• Isolated IoT: Core control devices. Sensing and monitoring are core functions. "A network of sensors that absorb environmental data and help monitor various environment-related attributes."
• Connected IoT: Devices are interconnected and interact with each other. Management and control are core functions. "Unified, cleaned, classified, and stored data absorbed by sensors connected through various connections."
• Enhanced IoT: An ecosystem of connected devices with enhanced analytical capabilities to increase their value. Enhancement is a core function. "Analysis of data processed by sensors to derive insights for optimal control of the connected environment."
• AIoT: An ecosystem of intelligent connected devices with autonomous operations. Autonomy is a core function. "Capable of independently deciding and executing optimal action plans."

AIoT provides a "further evolutionary step for the technology field, making data more valuable," the authors at Telefónica also agree. IoT, on its own, "is a connectivity-based technology that allows physical elements and devices to transmit data and communicate with other devices through wireless networks."

They add that this technology "is increasingly common in industrial, agricultural, and healthcare sectors, and even in buildings and many elements belonging to so-called smart cities." "It also offers a wealth of choices and opportunities to improve people's living and working environments."

The AI component enables networks to "detect errors and provide early warnings" and supports "enterprise strategies in the recruitment process or supply chain field."

The authors at Telefónica explain that other examples of AIoT applications range from industrial environments to leisure and tourism, from agriculture and livestock to transportation and logistics, and across various sectors such as banking and insurance.

They continue to say that AIoT also exists in "today's smartphones, as they use intelligent applications capable of learning and automatically responding through human-machine interaction." "One example is voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, or Cortana, through which users can search, make calls, compose messages, or open other applications."

They also state that AIoT is used in "recommendation systems installed in applications, social networks, email, and streaming platforms." These tools aim to generate and provide suggestions and content to users in a personalized way. They use AI algorithms and machine learning techniques to create advanced neural networks between products and users.

Furthermore, "users do not have to spend time checking devices because AIoT-based systems are autonomous, saving resources and time," the authors point out. "Moreover, with the deployment of 5G networks, the number of interconnected devices can increase, optimizing processes and improving scalability."