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How AI, Cloud and 5G are shaping the next wave of digital transformation
Digital technologies are evolving at unprecedented speed, altering the nature of our working lives and leisure time. But even bigger changes may be just around the corner, thanks to the convergence of AI, cloud infrastructure and 5G mobile networks.
Together, these three technologies could reshape the nature of industry, society and everyday life in ways that, from today’s perspective, may be hard to imagine. The issue was at the centre of a recent panel discussion at Ericsson's Innovation Center in Santa Clara, California, where Erik Ekudden, Chief Technology Officer at Ericsson and Meta Reality Labs’ Head of Wireless, Djordje Tujkovic, sat down to discuss some of the opportunities and innovations that might be thrown up, and some of the dangers to look out for.
The conversation began with a foundational question: What makes the interaction between AI, cloud and 5G so central to the next wave of digital transformation? For Ekudden, the answer was clear:
While AI tends to grab the headlines, it is the underlying 5G network and the processing capabilities of the cloud that allow it to really come to life. Even though devices are getting smarter and more powerful all the time, there is still a need to tap into processing power elsewhere, with 5G providing the vital link to the cloud data centers. “The device is where all the data is collected. Some of the fast processing happens on the device, but more complex processing still happens on the cloud,” Tujkovic explained.
In essence, AI, cloud and 5G need each other, with the unique characteristics of each adding up to more than the sum of their parts. Together, they can help AI move out from the confines of the office or the home to become a more holistic technology that can enhance all areas of life. Indeed, one could argue that there will be no truly personal AI without mobile networks.
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The potential goes far beyond consumer convenience though; the technologies can also underpin life-saving healthcare services, or create new opportunities for enterprises.
Ekudden described how a hospital he recently visited in Singapore was pioneering the use of 5G and AR in the operating theater. “They are cutting costs because they can be more efficient but, more important, they are saving lives. They are making sure they do a better job as doctors,” he said.
Among other uses, first responders can also receive advice from AI services, using the body cams they wear that are constantly recording and connected to the cloud.
On a more prosaic (but still commercially compelling) level, Ekudden also pointed to professional cameras equipped with 5G that can stream high-definition video over a wireless network at far lower cost than before – useful for everything from sports events to news broadcasts.
All this throws up issues of concern too, not least around privacy and security which are vital if the technology is to be widely adopted. The panelists agreed that trust was an integral issue for consumers and business users alike. “Networks are designed from the ground up with security in mind,” said Ekudden. “Enterprise users and consumers should be able to trust networks to be this platform that guarantees security and privacy.”
These are not new issues for the mobile industry, of course. Indeed, its success in tackling them is what has enabled the widespread take-up of mobile banking apps and the like. “It's very important to use the security features already present in a mobile network,” added Ekudden, pointing out that more layers can also be added by enterprises to protect their data, such as Secure Access Service Edge (SASE).
Technology companies, like Meta, take a similar approach. “Data privacy and security is very important for Meta,” said Tujkovic. “It's embedded in all of our applications. There will be more of our private lives that will be shared because AI is becoming more personalized. So, we are investing heavily in building those security frameworks. It's about secure handling of data and user-centric selection and settings.”
The importance of collaboration
It is still early days in terms of the development of AI, cloud and 5G technologies. How the landscape evolves will depend largely on whether technology companies can collaborate effectively, not just with each other but also with a wider community of users and developers.
“We're building our applications. We're also allowing others to build applications, so we really want to democratize both AI and AR,” said Tujkovic. As an example, he highlighted the Be My Eyes application, which is built on top of the Ray-Ban Meta glasses. This app is designed for people with visual impairments and connects to over eight million volunteers around the world. “Whenever you run into a situation that you need help, you can basically just call, ‘Hey Meta’, or ‘Hey Be My Eyes, can you help me here?’ It's either somebody who is volunteering to help you or there's an AI augmentation,” he explained.
LIMITLESS CONNECTIVITY
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5G as the great enabler
5G can offer larger bandwidth than before, for example, but it also offers far lower latency and improved uplink performance. Those characteristics are vital for something like real-time translation or AI-enhanced glasses that can capture and analyze video in real time.
The interaction between the technologies could hasten the arrival of augmented reality (AR) and what Tujkovic described as “multimodal multimedia”. In the future, with just a few verbal prompts, a user could create an immersive environment where they can consume content or interact with friends and family.
Security and trust in the AI age
The enhanced experiences 5G provides are driving greater satisfaction. With full-fledged 5G (standalone), operators have a significant opportunity to meet rising user expectations and capitalize on premium services for both consumers and enterprises.[4]
Jasmeet Sethi Head of Ericsson ConsumerLab
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Watch the full panel discussion here
There's no question that AI is the biggest trend now. It's changing society, changing enterprises, changing how consumers live their lives, but it does that through a strong cloud infrastructure and a strong mobile infrastructure.
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Erik Ekudden Chief Technology Officer at Ericsson
Preparing for the unknown
There is far more to come. “We are in a shift between what was and the new,” said Ekudden. “5G is really a very powerful technology. In fact, it is the biggest innovation platform the world has seen. Innovation doesn't stop, it's going to continue with new capabilities.”
He spoke with enthusiasm about the transition from early generative AI to agentic AI (involving more autonomous systems that are able to make decisions with minimal human supervision) and, ultimately, physical AI (where AI is integrated with robots or other machines that interact with the physical world). “That's super exciting, and of course it requires the better networks,” he added.
Just what might emerge and how quickly remains to be seen. “No one has a crystal ball,” said Tujkovic. “But I think we're putting the right tools and we're developing the right technologies that will enable that innovation and other use cases that we actually don't even know about. The future is really bright.”
What does seem clear is that, to make the most of what is coming, enterprises will need to look beyond the technology itself and ensure that they also build trust, develop an inclusive approach and, perhaps most importantly of all, prepare for continuous evolution.
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The Reuters news staff had no role in the production of this content. It was created by Reuters Plus, the brand marketing studio of Reuters.
Produced by Reuters Plus for
Disclaimer: The Reuters news staff had no role in the production of this content. It was created by Reuters Plus, the brand marketing studio of Reuters. To work with Reuters Plus, contact us here.