In recent years, an explosion of new technologies has hit the market, transitioning us into what some are referring to as the fourth industrial revolution.
These are exciting times as we push boundaries and explore what is possible and many of these new technologies have the potential to revolutionize the way we operate. Two of the most popular innovations as of late are the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI).
This article will explore these two technologies, the benefits that arise from implementing them, and real-world examples of their use across various industries.
How Do IoT and AI Work Together?
Most understand the basics of IoT and AI, but how do these two technologies complement and work together?
AI and IoT introduce endless possibilities for efficiency, intelligence, and automation. IoT allows for better connectivity and communication between devices, which enhances the sharing of data. AI revolutionizes the way machines learn and make decisions. So when you put these two together, you get super devices or systems that are highly capable of analyzing, understanding, and sharing significant amounts of data.
By using advanced algorithms and machine learning powered by AI, IoT devices can better analyze and interpret real-time data, enabling them to share information faster and make more informed decisions. They can also use the data and conclusions they reach to take autonomous actions.
An example of how AI and IoT support each other could be as follows:
An IoT gathers information, mimicking a human person’s observation process. The device then uses AI to reach the conclusion that “a person cannot see well if the lights are too low or not on.” Using that conclusion, the device can then make the decision to turn on the lights.
The challenges are that these devices are still only mimicking human thought processes. The advancement of these technologies makes it possible for devices and systems to process more data than a person would be able to in such a short amount of time. However, it’s still important to understand that AI is only as good as it is programmed to be, which means it can’t replace humans entirely.
Benefits of Implementing IoT and AI Technologies
There are many ways that a business or industry can benefit from adopting AI and IoT technologies. The most common use cases include:
- Increased efficiency;
- Improved sustainability;
- Reduced costs;
- Enhanced security;
- Improved communication;
- Greater scalability;
- Increased ROI;
- Enhanced asset management;
- Streamlined operations;
- Future-proofing.
As a whole, using IoT can greatly improve the infrastructure of a business, particularly the IT infrastructure. As things increasingly transition to digital, companies face increased cyberthreats. As such, using IoT to bolster IT infrastructure is critical.
Modernizing the IT infrastructure can also help companies advance their business and keep up with growing demands. One way to do this is to use cloud-based IoT platforms for better security and building network agility with other cloud-based models, such as Network as a Service (NaaS).
Real-World Examples of Industries Benefiting from IoT and AI
As IoT and AI become more accessible, numerous industries are adopting these technologies to improve efficiencies and operate optimally. Below are a few real-world examples of the various industries that are already benefiting from IoT and AI applications:
Building and Construction
As the Earth’s population grows, it puts a lot more stress on the construction industry. However, many construction and building companies are learning that they can overcome the barriers of increased demand by adopting AI-powered technologies.
By using robotics powered by AI and machine learning, construction companies can work faster, save more money, and be less wasteful of resources. It also enables them to make the jobs that human workers still perform safer and less physically demanding.
Smart buildings are another recent trend. Entire buildings, such as office buildings, are now being constructed with smart technologies integrated into the infrastructure.
Using IoT sensors, for example, buildings can now use predictive maintenance, which essentially monitors the status of the building and all the equipment in it, providing alerts for when maintenance needs to be performed.
Air quality in these buildings can also be monitored, as well as temperature. Overall, IoT technologies can significantly help monitor the structural health of buildings to ensure they are adequately maintained, last longer, and consume less energy.
Healthcare
The healthcare industry is being entirely transformed by AI and IoT tech. These innovations are significantly improving the level of care provided to patients.
Wearable devices, for example, allow for remote health monitoring and easy sharing of data, such as a patient’s vital signs. AI-powered systems can analyze a patient’s medical history to make predictions about their health in the future, which can help with disease prevention.
The medical staff themselves are also able to perform at higher levels with the assistance of advanced tech, such as robotics, helping with surgeries, and IoT applications, helping with more efficient communication between staff and patients.
Retail and e-Commerce
The retail industry has also experienced a lot of growth in recent years with the boom in e-Commerce and consumers shopping more online. While some businesses initially struggled to keep up with these new digital shopping demands, IoT has changed the game.
The combination of IoT and AI-powered systems means retailers have been able to streamline their operations and provide a much faster and more efficient experience for customers. From AI chatbots to more advanced shipment tracking, the entire shopping experience from start to finish is much more efficient.
Manufacturing and Logistics
With e-Commerce booming, retailers are not the only ones needing to adopt technologies to keep up with demands. On the back end of things, the supply chain has also been able to improve operations by integrating IoT and AI technologies.
These innovations can help with warehouse maintenance, inventory management, asset tracking, and more efficient shipment and delivery. Robotics in warehouses can also help create a safer workplace for human workers and assist them in their tasks for increased productivity.
Agriculture
IoT and other smart tech applications are also revolutionizing the farming and agriculture industries. Specifically, these technologies help with precision farming, such as sensors embedded in the soil that collect data on nutrient content, moisture levels, temperature, and more to enable better crop yields.
Drones are also being used to monitor fields and are equipped with smart sensors that can provide real-time data to farmers to help them better manage their crops and more quickly identify any issues.
In Conclusion
These are just a few of the many industries already being transformed by the latest technologies. When IoT and AI are combined, the possibilities are seemingly limitless. As more companies continue to adopt this tech and as the tech itself advances and evolves, we are likely to experience even greater transformations that bring about increased efficiency and optimization.
