Transforming the IoT
Nowadays, we are constantly connected to the Internet. Anywhere we go and in pretty much everything we do, all of us are connected to the Internet through our personal devices. From the way we make our coffee, to how we get to a destination, to even how we get woken up in the morning, it seems almost everything we own these days is somehow connected to the IoT (Internet of Things) and now, it's getting a whole lot smarter, thanks to the integration of AI.
What Is IoT You Ask?
Not many realize that there is a term used for the way everyday devices are connected to the Internet. It is entirely separate from our PC's, laptops, tablets and phones even though, they all connect to the same Internet.
The term IoT (Internet of Things) refers to the networked devices, sensors or objects that connect to the Internet and the technology that is used for these items to connect, even to each other. They are classified as "everyday" items. A coffee maker, vacuum, thermostat, laundry appliance, our vehicles, TV's, light bulbs, SMART assistant speakers and displays (like Google and Alexa), are all examples of these types of devices. There is no configuration to their connection to the Internet other than through adding an account for notifications and personalization settings. And, as you may have guessed already, have no protection through their constant connection as we have no control, or even ability given, to configure specifics about the connection. They just connect and work - to feed our need to be constantly connected and provide us handy ways to make our lives easier.
The Internet of Everything (IoE) is a term used to describe the interconnectedness of all devices, people, and data. It's a world where everything is connected, and information flows freely between devices, creating a seamless network of communication and collaboration.
Not only do our IoT devices make our personal lives easier, they also transform the way we do business by taking over tedious tasks, aid in designing manufactured goods, assist in the transport and sorting of goods, automate service maintenance checks and prevention schedules, keep track of assets and provide a huge range of analytics and reporting data so that we can understand further and make things even better.
To make this IoT world even better, the introduction of AI now transforms these capabilities and possibilities, tenfold. And, not surprisingly, the implementation of AI into our IoT world has already begun. Welcome to the new age of "Artificial Intelligence of Things". But first, if you need a bit more information about what AI is, where it came from and where it is headed, make sure to check out our Blog Post "What The Heck Is AI" to give you a better understanding of how AI and machine learning work.
What is Artificial Intelligence of Things?
As you most astutely guessed, Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) refers to the combination of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies with internet of things (IoT) devices. In simpler terms, it means that IoT devices are equipped with AI capabilities, allowing them to collect and analyze data, and make decisions based on that data.
The significance of AIoT lies in its ability to enable machines to perform tasks that were previously only possible for humans. By combining the power of AI with the vast amounts of data generated by IoT devices, AIoT has the potential to revolutionize industries such as healthcare, transportation, and manufacturing, along with, our day to day living tasks.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) are two of the most talked-about technologies in recent years, with the former, exploding everywhere these days. AI is all about making machines intelligent, while IoT is about connecting everyday objects to the internet. At first glance, these two technologies may seem unrelated, but they actually complement each other so very well.
The harmony of AI and IoT lies in the fact that IoT generates massive amounts of data that can be analyzed by AI algorithms. With AI, IoT devices can become more intelligent and efficient. For example, an AI-enabled thermostat can learn your temperature preferences and adjust itself accordingly, saving you money on energy bills. This was made ever so popular with the introduction of the NEST (now Google Nest) thermostat. Similarly, an AI-enabled security camera can learn to recognize faces and alert you when someone unfamiliar enters your home. Sound familiar NEST and Ring Camera users? As you can see, AI has already been implemented in some of our everyday IoT devices already... and it hasn't just stopped there!
AIoT has already made significant strides in industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation. For example, in healthcare, AIoT devices are now monitoring patients remotely and providing real-time data to healthcare providers, allowing for more personalized and efficient care. In manufacturing, AIoT has optimized production processes, has reduced downtime, and improves product quality. In the transportation sector, AIoT sensors can monitor traffic patterns and optimize routes for vehicles, reducing travel time and fuel costs. By providing real-time data and insights, AIoT helps businesses make better decisions, reduce costs, and improves efficiency. Additionally, the use of AIoT can lead to improved safety and security, as well as increased sustainability and environmental responsibility. But where is AIoT headed?
The future of AIoT is incredibly exciting. As technology continues to advance, we can expect to see AIoT playing an increasingly important role in our society and within the economy. For example, some experts predict that AIoT could eventually lead to the creation of truly autonomous machines, which would be capable of making decisions and taking actions on their own. This could have huge implications for industries such as manufacturing and logistics, where machines could work together seamlessly without any human intervention.
The Not So Good News
However, as I have stated previously regarding the future of AI, AIoT faces many challenges with implementation. One of which has been the lack of standardization in IoT devices. Without this standardization, AI intelligence algorithms must be customized for many devices, which causes huge delay problems with the pace of technology and further restricts any standardization capability for AI protocols. To cause further problems, due to the complexity in certain industries, vast amounts of data are needed in order to train the device models. This now requires higher processing power, computing resources and higher costs associated to achieve the end result.
That being said, these challenges can be overcome. Standardization efforts can help simplify the integration process, while advancements in edge computing can reduce the need for massive amounts of data by enabling AI models to be trained directly on IoT devices themselves.
And yet, as I have mentioned previously in a recent post regarding AI, the ethical problems that plaque AI come into play here as well. AI algorithms are only as good as the data they are trained on. If the data is biased, the algorithm will be too. This could lead to discrimination and unfair treatment. It is important to ensure that the data used to train AI algorithms is diverse and unbiased. Therefore, much care needs to be given when regulating AI.
Additionally, as I stated above, IoT devices have little to no security implemented. They blindly connect and stay connected to the Internet through different services. One of the main concerns currently, and for the future, is privacy. As more and more devices become connected to the internet, there is a risk that personal information could be collected and used without consent, as we must enter our personal details to create an account for personalization and payment of some services through these devices. This could lead to issues such as identity theft and surveillance problems. Each year, usually around this time, there is always the topic on the news about privacy violation warnings through SMART TV's, IP Security cameras, Laptop and PC cameras and microphones and most SMART assistant displays in our rooms and on our refrigerators. But still, we buy up these devices like hotcakes and throw them into our home networks... anything to make our lives easier.
Final Thoughts
With the implementation of AI into IoT we must ensure that it is governed with great care. The possibilities of AIoT are truly amazing however, with the concerns over privacy, at what cost are we progressing into greatness? Blanket Terms and Conditions that come with IoT devices are fully ignored by consumers. Everything IoT requires an account in order to use these devices and then forces us to give up our privacy to enable us to turn on our house lights from the car. I have fallen into the SMART home game myself over the years with SMART displays, TV's, speakers, plugs, appliances, lights, door locks... its all just so incredibly handy. And integrating these devices into different services to view my cameras, stream music, movies and TV shows, tell me my daily schedule, plan my routes and start my truck, all by a simple automation control or voice command! How can I not fall in love with that?!
Even with the proper implementation of setting my IoT devices on a separate network, turning off the collection of my data in device and service policies and limiting cross account use with many services, there are still privacy concerns. It's truly incredible that we have these amazing capabilities but operating them to their full potential can involve too much risk for many - needlessly. That being said, much of what you have to agree to to use these services is so that it can do everything for you. Not so product staff can spy on you. It needs to get personalized information on your daily appointments, where you are going, where you live, what you like, where you shop, and payment information, in order to give you a daily event calendar, guide you through traffic, remind you that you are running low on laundry detergent or milk and eggs. As long as this information is secured on their end, there shouldn't be problems with this.
Yes, there is a risk of someone targeting you to try and see through your cameras or attempt to get into your network through your WiFi connected door lock... but the keyword there is "targeted". As long as you follow security best practices, setup your network properly, and limit the information you give out, you are considered low risk. Don't just "plug 'n' play and walk away" or entirely trust that "Google" or "Alexa" has your back. As much as they have a responsibility to protect your information, you have a responsibility as well to safeguard your devices and network.
How AI and the IoT are revolutionizing industries and heading to transform the way businesses, healthcare and manufacturing (just to name a few in a very long list) manage their operations, production lines, patients and track goods, is truly jaw dropping incredible. As long as AI is governed with supreme care, diligence and respect, the outcomes will be absolutely amazing for all that use utilize it.
