The Power of Combining 5G and AI

The key ingredient, the experts say, is 5G. It gives developers the ability to scale up projects more easily because there's no need to build extensive fiber-optic networks to keep data flowing. What's more, 5G networks let internet-connected devices transmit much more information much more quickly--which in turn is spurring developers to come up with more advanced machines that can take maximum advantage of the capability. "5G in the field, in real-world deployments, enhances the value of all these other technologies," says Bill Menezes, a senior principal analyst at information-technology research and advisory firm Gartner Inc. Here's a look at early examples of what is possible when these technologies are yoked together: In the food industry, AI is already being used to track supply chains and ingredient quality, sort produce and even create taste profiles to target specific demographics. And the technology is poised to take on ever more complex tasks as it links up with 5G and networks of online-capable devices known as the Internet of Things.