Fizzing with possibilities: the heady cocktail of AI and networks

Artificial intelligence is on the move. It’s showing up on our phones, in our cars, and at the edge of the networks that connect our everyday lives.

What’s more, AI is becoming mobile — and mobile networks are becoming intelligent. In 2023 alone, global AI workloads increased by 150%, and by 2030, AI traffic will account for an estimated 20% of global data flows. Operators that build the right mobile networks—and choose the right partners—will thrive in this new era.

The front cover for this Mobile AI edition of Transform toasts the energizing capabilities that AI and mobile networks together can unleash.

Progress will depend on coordination: connectivity enabling AI to create and realize fresh industry ambitions, and AI in turn identifying and amplifying network operational efficiencies.

A virtuous circle of accelerating possibilities towards which customers, consumers, partners and providers alike can all raise a celebratory glass. An AI-powered future signals hope, not headaches.

AI’s appetite: a growing demand for smarter networks

AI applications come with an appetite for connectivity that today’s networks were never designed to feed. Consider this:

• One autonomous vehicle generates 4 TB of data per day, equivalent to 3,000 people binge-watching HD videos.
• Smart-city video analytics need up to 20 times more bandwidth than traditional CCTV.
• Generative AI models like DeepSeek rely on low-latency, high-capacity cloud connections to work their magic.

The story’s pretty clear: AI is only as powerful as the network supporting it. While some tasks can be handled on-device, most still depend on powerful, high-speed connectivity. That means operators must rethink their mobile network strategies—prioritizing scalability, reliability and sustainability to not just meet the demand, but to monetize it effectively.

Better together: why networks and ICT suppliers must lean on each other

The stakes are high. On one hand, large language models, multimodal assistants, and predictive AI systems are transforming how we access information, communicate, navigate, and make decisions. These AI capabilities are becoming more personal, more contextual, and more real-time. But none of it is possible without reliable, high-capacity, low-latency mobile networks.

Mobile network operators are under pressure, too. The explosion in data traffic, rising infrastructure costs, and declining revenue per user are forcing telcos to look beyond traditional business models. By embedding AI into the network core, operators can optimize traffic routing, predict maintenance needs, and improve energy efficiency. And they can offer enterprise customers new capabilities — from real-time video analytics to intelligent automation for logistics, retail, and manufacturing.

Collaboration is key. Urban transport systems that adjust dynamically based on real-time AI forecasts, or healthcare applications that combine wearable data with AI insights to provide proactive, mobile-based care: These aren’t just use cases — they are a glimpse of what’s possible when intelligent software and intelligent infrastructure evolve together.

In sync and on course

AI is a catalyst, not a threat to network profitability. And, supported by ICT partners, it’s already working as one with mobile operators. This issue of Transform brings together voices from across this emerging landscape.

Mobile AI is not simply “AI on your phone,” nor is it “AI for telcos.” It’s the heady cocktail of intelligent computation with mobile reach — and that promises to transform not just how we interact with technology, but how technology interacts with the world.

Welcome to the age of Mobile AI.