How 5G and AI Work Together: Benefits and Risks in 2023
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Summary: How Do 5G and AI Work Together?
5G and AI are complementary and will influence the development of the other. Here are just some examples of how these two technologies help each other:
- 5G enables edge computing, allowing AI applications to run on smaller devices, like your smartphones. It also makes improves large data transfers, which are required for AI training.
- AI helps manage and streamline 5G networks, which can be hugely complicated. It can also help detect network anomalies and patterns, improving the security of 5G networks.
However, there are some risks associated with 5G and AI. Privacy is a pressing concern, especially after the data breach of AI chatbot ChatGPT.
Ensure your security by using a VPN like Surfshark, which encrypts your internet connection without reducing 5G speeds. It also successfully hides your IP address and location from AI chatbots.
Check out the rest of the article for a deep dive into 5G and AI, how they impact each other, and other possible risks you need to be mindful of.
Few technologies have received more public attention in recent times than 5G and AI technologies. How do 5G and AI work together? What impact will they have in the future?
5G makes connectivity faster and more seamless. Meanwhile, AI enhances overall productivity by automating tasks. When used together, both can significantly deepen the impact each can haveon our future.
This article navigates the interplay between AI and 5G and explains the expected benefits and risks of their combined usage.
What is 5G?
5G, the fifth generation of wireless systems, is the latest step in the evolution of mobile internet connectivity.
Offering faster speeds (up to 100x faster than 4G), broader coverage, and more stable connections, 5G enables a smarter, more connected world. With its potential to connect virtually everyone and everything, including machines and devices, 5G is set to transform our lives.
5G is not just an upgrade from 4G. It’s a whole new kind of network. It uses a higher frequency band of the wireless spectrum called “millimeter wave,” which allows it to transmit data much faster than previous generations. It’s also more secure, reliable, responsive, and efficient.
One downside to 5G is that it is more difficult to install and deploy. This is mostly why 5G hasn’t completely taken over 4G yet. Network providers still have to place transmitters across the globe, which presents physical challenges in terms of location and transportation.
The evolution of 5G through the years
- 1G wirelessly connected mobile phones to radio towers, enabling seamless conversations on the go.
- 2G turned analog into digital communication, allowing text messages to be sent.
- 3G enabled full-fledged internet connectivity on mobile devices.
- 4G improved the speed and volume of internet data transfers to enable movie and sports streaming in HD.
- 5G introduces unlimited data capacity at significantly higher speed and security than the previous generation.
How prevalent is 5G today?
Even though 5G is a relatively recent technological development, its adoption is growing at a blistering pace. There are already more than 1.9 billion 5G subscriptions globally, with this number expected to increase to 5.9 billion by 2027.
The countries leading the 5G charge, in terms of availability, are:
- United States: Available to 54.3% of the population
- Cyprus: Available to 47.7% of the population
- South Korea: Available to 34.5% of the population
- Netherlands: Available to 34.2% of the population
- Australia: Available to 33.3% of the population
On the other hand, South Korea and the UAE lead in terms of the speed of their 5G networks. The median 5G download speed in South Korea is a staggering 500 Mbps.
What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a subset of computer science that aims to make machines capable of mimicking human intelligence. This involves the ability to process, learn from, and use data to achieve specific outcomes, such as pattern recognition or comprehending complex content.
Unlike 5G, AI has been around for more than a decade. Indeed, AI-based applications such as virtual assistants and predictive typing are already quite commonplace in our daily lives.
More recently, AI language-processing chatbots, such as ChatGPT and Google Bard, have taken the world by storm due to their ability to respond to prompts in a conversational manner.
Types of artificial intelligence
There are two very different conceptions of artificial intelligence.
1. Artificial General Intelligence
Artificial general intelligence (AGI) is the type of AI you recognize from famous movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey or The Terminator. These are machines or systems that think, plan, and respond like humans while also possessing so-called “superintelligence.”
AGI would be able to process information at lightning speed, make incredibly complex calculations in nanoseconds, and possess deep domain knowledge on a range of subjects. However, no such technology exists currently.
2. Narrow Artificial Intelligence
Narrow artificial intelligence (NAI) is the type of AI that actually exists and is being further developed as you are reading this.
Narrow AI refers to systems that execute specific tasks incredibly well, such as self-driving cars, voice recognition, or software that can make medical diagnoses based on advanced imaging. Large language models, like Google Bard, are examples of narrow artificial intelligence. Other forms of machine learning-based generative AI, such as DALL-E and Midjourney, also count as NAI.
How 5G and AI Complement Each Other
How can 5G and AI work together? Both technologies rely on data for their operations, which creates synergies between the two that are explored below.
We first look at how AI helps with 5G network planning before studying the ways in which 5G can help take AI to the next level.
How AI impacts 5G: Better security and optimization
5G is more complex than previous iterations of mobile connectivity standards. For instance, the mmWave used for high-speed 5G cannot penetrate physical objects or buildings. Hence, 5G deployment at scale requires a denser network of base stations, which increases the overall complexity.
AI helps improve network quality for 5G in the following ways:
1. Network performance management and optimization
The existing spectrum of radio waves may be insufficient to meet the increased demand for network coverage due to the spread of 5G. AI, with its ability to learn and adapt, can play a pivotal role in managing and optimizing network performance.
AI can aid in predicting and mitigating network congestion, thereby improving network quality and providing a seamless user experience. For example, it can be used to tailor the frequencies that a device broadcasts at. As a result, devices will be able to choose less congested frequencies to avoid congested networks.
More than 64% of 5G decision-makers and executives surveyed by Ericsson stated they were already using or would start to use AI for network management and optimization.
2. Enhancing security
Like other mobile networks, 5G is susceptible to security risks. AI efforts can help mitigate such risks by monitoring network traffic and detecting any underlying anomalies. For instance, a sudden surge in traffic can indicate a DDoS attack, which AI can detect and report.
Moreover, AI can learn from each attack and prevent similar future attacks.
3. Personalized services
AI’s ability to learn from patterns and predict user behavior is helpful in personalizing consumer experiences with 5G.
As such, AI can ensure that network uptime and downtime are configured according to a user’s needs. Indeed, more than 55% of service providers that participated in Ericsson’s survey stated that using AI to improve the consumer experience was a priority area for them.
It can also help optimize connectivity for apps that are used at different times of the day. For instance, it could divert greater 5G bandwidth to your music app during your work commute and then to video conferencing or productivity apps while at work.
How 5G impacts AI: Faster data transfer and processing
AI typically requires large amounts of data for training. By making the transfer of such data faster and more efficient, 5G boosts our ability to develop new kinds of AI.
Some specific ways in which 5G impacts AI are listed below.
1. Enabling edge computing
Edge computing is all about processing data in the same place it’s generated rather than sending it back to a central cloud. It’s like having a mini data center on your device.
Due to 5G’s rapid speeds and low latency, computing at the network edge becomes even more efficient, which means AI applications can run faster and smoother. This could revolutionize everything from video analytics to predictive typing.
2. Supporting data-intensive AI applications
5G enables rapid transfers, which can support data-intensive AI applications. For instance, most AI algorithms require massive amounts of data for their training and testing. With 5G, these large datasets can be transferred quickly, speeding up the training and testing process.
Similarly, 5G could enable other services that require real-time transfersof large volumes of data, such as the monitoring of smart cities or real-time patient monitoring in healthcare. This can help AI companies explore new revenue streams.
3. Boosting IoT connectivity
The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to an interconnected network of devices and sensors that work in tandem to deliver improved services and insights to users. Smart homes and smart cities are great examples of IoT networks.
Both 5G and AI help improve the efficacy of IoT networks. AI makes devices and sensors smarter, allowing them to understand and respond to user preferences. On the other hand, 5G networks allow a larger number of devices to form part of a single network and communicate reliably at improved speeds.
The Security Risks of AI and 5G
As with any emerging technology, 5G and AI present several risks individually. For instance, there are concerns that AI could lead to mass unemployment or the creation and spreading of fake content and misinformation. The network apparatus for 5G also leads to concerns around network radiation.
In this section, we look at some of the concerns that the combined use of AI and 5G gives rise to:
1. Larger attack surface for cybercriminals and hackers
With the rise of 5G and AI-enabled devices, we’re looking at a larger playground for potential cyber threats. No matter how innocuous, each connected device could be a potential backdoor for hackers. Indeed, large webs of connected devices are ideal targets for botnets.
Additionally, AI can also help hackers plan and launch cyberattacks. For instance, hackers can use large language model chatbots, like Bard and ChatGPT, to generate malicious code and launch malware attacks or create personalized phishing emails.
Indeed, in May 2023, hackers used AI-generated text to create an email impersonating Meta. The email directed users to click on a link that led to a phishing page where the user’s details would be captured by the hackers.
Consider installing a reliable antivirus scanner to keep your connected devices safe. If you have many devices, we recommend BitDefender’s Family Pack, which covers up to 15 devices. This will ensure that your network of devices is secured against any threats that arise due to the combination of 5G and AI.
2. Network infrastructure vulnerability
5G networks are complex and multilayered. As a result, there are many potential points of failure. From new frequency bands to network slicing, each new feature could be a potential vulnerability if not properly secured.
As per a Nokia report, more than 75% of 5G service providers stated they experienced six security breaches or cyberattacks in 2021 and 2022.
This is particularly concerning as 5G and AI-enabled IoT devices are being deployed rapidly — and yet the workforce of cybersecurity professionals can’t keep pace. A cybersecurity workforce study showed that a gap of 2.72 million cybersecurity professionals already exists.
3. Data protection and privacy concerns
AI applications rely on large amounts of data to function effectively, and 5G networks are designed to transmit this data quickly and efficiently. However, this increased flow of data could lead to potential privacy concerns. If not properly secured, sensitive data could be intercepted during transmission.
Privacy concerns also stem from the data that AI models and applications collect about us. While this data is primarily used to train the underlying model, it can also provide another data source for cybercriminals to attack. In fact, OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has already reported a security breach that revealed personal and financial information about users.
Of course, privacy risks should not stop us from using 5G and AI. Instead, we should arm ourselves with tools that encrypt our internet activity and prevent any data leaks during transmission.
A virtual private network (VPN) does exactly this. We recommend using Surfshark, the fastest VPN based on our speed tests, to secure your 5G connection. It keeps you secure without compromising on the blazing-fast speeds that 5G brings.
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For more information on AI and privacy concerns, check out our guide on the privacy risks of ChatGPT and other AI chatbots.
Conclusion: Envisioning an AI and 5G Future
5G and AI are set to shape human life in the 21st century. Both technologies’ impacts will be significant, but their combined application could yield profound changes in society as we know it.
5G will help speed up the development of AI applications and make them more accessible by improving edge computing. In turn, AI will manage complex 5G networks and help us benefit from the technology to the fullest extent.
While using both technologies, it’s vital that you account for possible risks, such as cyber threats and privacy concerns. Using a VPN helps keep your data private and secure, while antivirus software wards off most cybersecurity and virus-related concerns.
Surfshark is one of our top-rated VPNs to use with ChatGPT and similar AI LLMs. You can use Surfshark on unlimited simultaneous devices, perfect for protecting your personal network. It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test the service before committing.
