The Smart & Connected to the Cloud World: 2016 and Beyond Intel Newsroom

In 2016, people have witnessed the digital and physical worlds continuing to merge as everyday objects, commercial and industrial equipment, and entire cities become smart and connected to the cloud. Analysts expect that by 2020 more than 50 billion devices – wearables, store inventory sensors, autonomous vehicles, medical equipment, city infrastructure and more – will be connected to the internet and each other.1 And people's relationship with technology – how it is used, the experiences it enables and what benefits people derive from it – are beginning to shift dramatically. Not since the transition from analog to digital has there been the potential for transformation of this magnitude: Networks are evolving faster than ever to accommodate the intense bandwidth demands created by the ever-growing number of always-on, connected devices to access, analyze and share data in real time. In 2016, Intel has been working with policymakers, the industry and industrial leaders to focus on four areas that will help spur innovation and enable more rapid transformation, leading to greater and new opportunities for industries and consumers: artificial intelligence, 5G networks, automated driving and virtual reality/merged reality.