Why IoT should have an artificial intelligence layer

Combining artificial intelligence with the Internet of Things opens the world to unlimited technological potential. In this article, Rick Delgado, freelance technology writer and commentator, explores why it makes sense to add an AI layer to IoT, possibly adding new possibilities and capabilities to both technologies.

The Internet of Things is a powerful technological force. So many devices and activities in our personal and professional lives are connected to it—from smartphones and activity trackers to huge manufacturing centers and medical devices, more and more things are being connected to the IoT every day and transforming how we live and work.

At the same time, artificial intelligence technology is also developing rapidly, with 80% of the world’s largest companies having incorporated some kind of cognitive technology into their products. AI trains computers to take on some human forms and tasks and expands the world of technological possibilities to combine machine learning and human creativity.

With two large technological movements making waves around the world, it makes sense to combine them and add an AI layer to the IoT. Combining AI and the IoT opens new doors of possibilities and expands what both technologies are capable of. One of the biggest stumbling blocks for IoT is that everything is segmented vertically, meaning that information can be pooled in certain areas, but those pools of information don’t communicate with each other. To truly reach the full potential of the IoT, an AI layer needs to be added that brings together each silo of information.

First, there’s the sheer amount of data produced by the IoT. Connecting devices around the world leads to smarter communication and better information, but the amount of data can be overwhelming and too much for humans to sort through. One of the things that AI does best is combing through piles of information to pull out the most applicable nuggets and perform analysis. AI algorithms can be created to pluck out vital information, thus saving humans hundreds of hours of work and likely providing more reliable results and analysis. IoT is powerful when communicating between machines, but adding AI combines machine learning with deep learning algorithms.