Three Simple Roles for AI in the IoT

When confronted with questions about integration between AI and the IoT, imaginations easily drift to menacing futures where intelligent machines rule. Before machines become sentient, however, humans can benefit in practical ways from AI. There is likely a entire ecosystem of AI-powered applications yet to be developed and service providers can catalyze their development. Though AI is often discussed in complex terms, its real power may be in making things simple for people.

People are forgetful, especially as lifestyles become busier. There is more disparate technology with which to interact, which creates streams of tasks in daily life that could be automated. The technology in uses exposes us to security threats which are difficult to monitor, especially across devices, accounts, websites and often forgotten logins. Done right, AI ought to help solve these day to day problems for people. Here are a few ways it might work.

Create Personalized Life Hacks

A smart home environment with an AI-powered digital assistant will take note of and remember repetitive tasks and demands. After a time, it may recommend protocols - personalized life hacks - that automate series of tasks. A voice command like “night time mode” switches off the lights, confirms doors and windows are closed, reduces the temperature on the thermostat and arms the home security system. Conversely, “morning mode” could raise the temperature, heat up the shower, make sure the coffee is brewing and feed the dog.

Send Helpful Little Reminders

If your car is smart and connected, then your AI-powered digital assistant should follow you there. After the second time you visited the local grocery and forgot to bring milk home, your car reminds you that your mission may not be complete. With the help of connected tags, these AI reminders can extend to keys, lunch boxes, ID badges, devices – all the things people forget when rushing off.

Be a Digital Sheepdog

Identity theft and account hacking have become prevalent. It’s difficult to remember all the accounts and passwords people use and harder still to keep track of whether they remain secure. An AI assistant should be a sheepdog guarding against digital wolves. By monitoring your social accounts, logins and email and searching your name to watch for changes in results, AI should help people have better security habits and respond more readily to danger.

For service providers, AI may play a variety of roles across a variety of functions and complex applications. As with other emerging technologies, service providers now have an opportunity to catalyze development of AI-powered applications on their networks, in their customer-facing channels and as a means to encourage IoT growth. Providing AI; virtualized network services; transactional BSS infrastructure; and IoT components, service providers can offer a potent platform.