Working smart: How 5G networks are taking AI to a new level.

Smart factories that run on automation. 
On the factory floor, dozens of cable-free, 5G-connected robots can roam from one production line to the next, lifting heavy objects and picking the right parts. A fleet of AGVs can move around the factory or between sites without running into each other or human workers. Hundreds or thousands of cameras can monitor the assembly of a product, sharing their aggregate data with AI models on an edge server to automatically recognize defects or other quality issues.

It’s worth mentioning that some industrial systems may use on-device AI—for example, a robotic arm equipped with a special chip for machine vision. In these cases, there’s no need for connectivity to run AI on the device itself, although you may want to send data to the cloud to update the AI model. However, in a 5G-connected environment, data from across a factory of devices, machines, and robots can leverage AI models to identify new efficiencies and calibrate operations as needed.

Safer and more secure construction sites.
In construction, each site is a unique and dynamic work environment. 5G can help map danger zones on the worksite or enable real-time video monitoring of changes in the weather that could impact a project. Specialized bots inspect places that are hard or unsafe for humans to access. By connecting nearly everything, 5G can also make it easier to use AI-driven computer vision to monitor equipment, detect trespassing or theft, or even see whether workers are wearing their safety gear.

More efficient commercial trucking.
With a 5G-connected fleet of commercial vehicles sharing data about road and traffic conditions to the cloud, AI can help optimize their routes in near-real time, cutting down on travel time and fuel costs. Soon, AI-powered autonomous fleets may lighten the load on commercial drivers, who can essentially become remote operators. This will rely on massive numbers of devices all transferring data back to an operations center, which 5G will be able to easily handle. Self-driving trucks can increase system capacity by operating around the clock, completing a greater number of shipments in less time.

Better health outcomes for patients.
In healthcare, having the right information can impact patients’ quality of care. 5G and AI will help enable the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), in which data about vitals, patient behavior, device usage, and more is collected and analyzed. Providers can intervene and modify treatments, preventing visits to the emergency room or hospitalization. Over the long term, the data collected by 5G-enabled devices can be fed into AI models to help researchers recognize trends and anomalies, so that providers can treat patients earlier.