How does AI enhance the power of IoT?
By: Debjani Goswami
Tags: Iot Testing, Artificial Intelligence, Smart Devices, IoT, AI

Technology around us is advancing faster every day, with machines and gadgets gaining human-like decision-making abilities, smart technology taking over every aspect of our lifestyle, and the gap between us and the entire world being bridged by a single click.

But what has made this progress possible? The two keywords that experts would give you are IoT (Internet of Things) and AI (Artificial Intelligence).

Understanding IoT in brief

The term Internet of things or IoT collectively refers to all the things and devices which have access to the internet and can make smart, human-like decisions by gathering and analyzing relevant data from the internet. IoT can be something as simple and familiar as the smart refrigerators at our homes or something more complicated yet familiar like fitness bands and intelligent home assistants.

IoT collects data in real-time and allows organizations or individuals to utilize that data for better, smarter, and more informed decision making. The popularity of IoT speaks for its potential, as according to Business Insider’s survey, by 2027, there are expected to be 41 billion IoT devices, more than five times the number in 2019.

What is AI?

Artificial intelligence is a broad spectrum of computer science that works to simulate intelligence into smart devices so that they can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence to be done. AI works in three phases, which are learning, reasoning and perception. In these phases, different algorithms help the machine learn and make decisions based on real-time data.

So, where do the two meet?

IoT services work in five primary phases: create, communicate, aggregate, analyze, and act. An IoT service’s ultimate efficiency depends on how well it can execute the “act” part. The general essence of the Internet of Things lies with the sensors built inside the devices that allow it to access a wide range of data from the internet.

To “act” precisely how a “smart device” is expected; it needs to analyze this data accurately. And this is where AI comes in. While IoT works as the provider of the necessary information, AI brings the analytical potentials to the table. It enables the devices to respond in ways that are both creative and relevant. In this regard, AI-enabled IoT testing also plays a major role in ensuring the proper and desired performance of the IoT device.

The use of AI in IoT enables:

Data management and analysis, leading to important insights

Quick but accurate execution of analysis

Finding the right mixture of localized and centralized intelligence

Customization of user experience without compromising confidentiality and security of data

Safeguarding the data from cyber attacks

How does AI empower IoT devices?

1. Better consumer experience: AI helps IoT devices learn consumer preferences and act according to those, thus creating a unique user experience for every individual.

2. Boosted efficiency: AI helps in decluttering IoT’s constant data stream and find definite patterns to help upgrade decision-making abilities. Machine learning fused with AI can also go as far as to foresee the conditions of operation and alter the parameters to the right levels to achieve ideal results every time.

3. Reduced unplanned downtime: Machine breakdowns and operational failures often cause organizations to lose out on a considerable amount of money and interrupt the user experience. But for IoT devices integrated with AI, this problem can be avoided as the device’s functionality is continuously being monitored, which AI can analyze and predict failures well in advance.

4. Risk management: Integrating AI into IoT helps organizations understand and test IoT along with the risks involved with it and design automated responses, which in the long run helps with handling financial loss, employee security, and threats of cyber-attack.

Even though these technologies sound futuristic, the truth is AI integrated IoT is already present in abundance in our daily lives. The most familiar examples could be self-driving cars and smart homes. All the devices here are connected and can be commanded through a digital assistant like Alexa or Siri or the Google Assistant, the face detection features in mobile phones, fitness bands with body sensors, and so on. Therefore, a quality assurance service provider plays a significant role here as it ensures proper integration and validation of the devices to enable the desired performance.

AI integrated IoT works to make life more convenient for human beings, whether at a personal or enterprise level.