State of the Industry: A Convergence of Technologies

The outlook of the technology sector has never been more exciting. We are on the cusp of truly remarkable innovation and that is because of a convergence of technologies. A lot of credence is given to AI right now, and understandably so, it is a very fascinating and powerful technology, but it is not a stand-alone technology set to usher in widespread change. Rather, it is the convergence of technologies that will create the next sweeping digital transformation. 

Just look at AI and IoT. IoT lays a fantastic infrastructure for AI and is crucial to the success of AI. For example, fleet telematics have been around for years. Cameras are a strong value-add for safety both on the outside of the vehicle and inside the cab. If you already have cameras inside the vehicle capturing data and monitoring the driver for safe behavior, then you can add an AI algorithm that flags anomalies. 

Now you have an AI-powered camera that is an artificial vision solution. The camera is “watching” the driver, and if the driver is texting, this is flagged as an anomaly, and the alert system inside the cab will provide real-time feedback to the driver. Without AI, it was just a camera recording, but with AI, it acts as an assistant that’s right there in the vehicle, managing unsafe behavior. 

AI in cameras is a pioneering approach of what we call AIoT, which is Artificial Intelligence Internet of Things, and it will be seen everywhere. Biodiversity sensors are buried in the ground with an AI-equipped camera that can take a picture of an insect and identify it – whether it is a good insect for biodiversity or a harmful one. 

Unique identifiers on any cargo – shipping containers, packages, vehicles – can pass through AI cameras and be logged along the supply chain; facial recognition in airports for security; traffic cameras to help flow or manage the safe passage of emergency vehicles in smart cities applications: the possibilities are tremendous.

AI is discussed a lot as a stand-alone technology when it really is not. AI should be seen as a layer on top of an existing infrastructure where IoT is centered. AI works best when the right data is delivered at the right time, which is where IoT is integral. 

As we look toward the rest of 2023 and beyond, it is important to note that AI is part of a larger ecosystem that requires implementation in a way that is effective and lasting. IoT has reduced its complexity to leverage significantly over the last two decades as IoT providers have tied together disparate parts of the ecosystem that require harmonious interaction for success. 

These developing and emerging technologies are reliant on IoT, and KORE anticipates that IoT will become ubiquitous. We call this the Decade of IoT because the market is ready, and the offering has been developed to where it can be more easily leveraged and complemented by new tech such as AI.