Latin America. The main objective of applying Artificial Intelligence, AI, to Internet of Things ( IoT) infrastructures, is to add an additional and transversal layer of intelligence throughout the IoT framework.
Edy Liongosari, scientist and Global Managing Director of Technology Labs at Accenture, points out that AI is used, first and foremost, to create sensors that self-calibrate, or self-recover when the IoT network or an individual sensor fails, identifying them by proximity or even creating a new type of "virtual sensors" that employ MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) artificial vision. a non-invasive image visualization technique that is used, for example, to detect cancer cells and that reproduces three-dimensional representations.
In the highest stratum of the IoT infrastructure, the application, Liongosari highlights that artificial intelligence provides new functions related to "the predictability of future events, maintenance tasks or security issues" In this sense, the Accenture executive points out some examples: "Thanks to AI you can identify who is authorized to use a certain equipment and its degree of preparation; offer context-based services with additional capabilities for more intensive uses; optimize the operation of the supply chain by rethinking or reprogramming it due to causes that interrupt its operation; or to be able to interact with the user from the recognition of their emotional state by combination of gestures, voice and facial gesticulation in order to understand their needs in a certain context".
In order to understand how AI helps all types of industries add more efficiency to their IoT infrastructures, it is useful to go back in time a little to see how the use of IT in the industrial environment has evolved. Wael William Diab, Senior Director of Huawei, member of the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC), expert in artificial intelligence and regular speaker at the IoT Solutions World Congress of Fira de Barcelona, recalls that, at the beginning, information technologies applied to industrial uses were seen as tools that increased efficiency within organizations.
"IT was then considered essential elements when measuring the performance of an activity compared to other KPIs established by the management team. If we stick to the ioT realm, IT has been integrated deeper into the management chain to reach decision-making areas, even in more traditional industries that had no relationship with IT in the past," says Diab.
In his opinion, today artificial intelligence drives a new change in IT "that provides the knowledge that must serve to establish future objectives and KPI elements. In other words: AI has won a seat at the management table, adding its voice wherever the organization should go through the path of knowledge, "says the expert.
AI, IoT and Analytics: winning trident
From a technology standpoint, it's important to remember that artificial intelligence is made up of a subset of technologies such as machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL). "Artificial intelligence, the internet of things and analytics make up three aspects of the same reality," says the head of Huawei, Wael William Diab, who also indicates: "While IoT focuses on sensor networks that generate data, analytics processes are limited to the analysis of such data with the aim of creating value, while artificial intelligence enables the generation of knowledge and predictability from such valuable data".
Both Liongosari and Diab agree that thanks to the extensive applicability of AI it is possible to integrate data analytics mechanisms in practically all types of industrial sectors. However, Liongosari warns that the most important value that can be extracted from AI depends largely on applications. "AI has a very important role in improving operational efficiency, which constitutes a large part of the current implementations of the industrial internet of things from predictive maintenance, through logistics to process optimization."
Studies on the impact of AI on predictive maintenance, such as the one carried out by the firm Anodot, highlight that this possibility will save organizations between 240,000 and 630,000 million dollars in 2025 thanks to the reduction of downtime and expenses related to maintenance processes. At the other extreme, predictive maintenance has the ability to generate new business models, new sales channels, better services and a superior user experience. In this sense, Michelin's 'Tire-as-a-service' strategy is an example of transforming the business model of a traditional industry through IoT and AI.
In aspects related to the application of predictive analytics in different industries, Diab recommends using the term "industrial" in a similar way to how the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) does when covering different sectors, instead of focusing only on manufacturing processes. "IIC has recently published the Industrial IoT Analytics Framework (IIAF) study that helps and assists industry leaders and developers of analytical systems to add value to the business by making decisions related to the development, documentation, communication and deployment of IoT infrastructures"
In terms related to the emergence of new standards in the section of predictive analytics, the international standardization organization ISO has established the ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 42 standards in AI, the first standard that seeks to cover the artificial intelligence technological ecosystem in its entirety, and whose creation committee has proposed Wael William Diab as Chairman in this category.
The standardization of artificial intelligence will undoubtedly benefit the industry and lead to a new era of growth since there are many companies that are going to make significant investments in AI solutions. This regulation guarantees that they will be able to continue working and evolving in this area over the next few years.
These topics will be addressed at the IoT Solutions World Congress, IoTSWC, is the world's largest event specialized in the Industrial Application Internet of Things (IIoT) and the only one that combines commercial exposure, knowledge, test benches and professional networking at the highest level.
In its 2017 call, IoTSWC brought together 240 companies, 250 speakers and 13,000 visitors from 114 countries. The next edition will take place from 16 to 18 October 2018 at the Gran Via venue of Fira de Barcelona and will also focus on artificial intelligence and blockchain that will have their own forums.
