Summary of Key Points
This article discusses the public's perception of the combination of 6G and AI as being somewhat abstract. Through interviews with industry experts, it addresses three key questions: What exactly is an AI-native network? Why will watching videos become smoother in the future? How can the safety of remote driving be ensured? The aim is to transform 6G+AI from a distant concept into tangible, everyday applications.
1. AI-Native Networks: Not a Mixture of 6G and AI, but a Fundamental Integration
Many people think that an AI-native network simply involves adding an AI component to 6G, but that’s not the case at all. An AI-native network is one where AI is integrated into the network design from the outset, enabling it to “think” and “optimize” its own operations. For example, when you watch videos at home and the signal fluctuates, you might need to manually switch between Wi-Fi networks. With an AI-native network, it would automatically detect the quality of the surrounding signals and route data through the most efficient channels. It could also adjust bandwidth usage based on your daily habits (such as watching dramas at 8 PM), similar to how a building management system prepares for your return home by adjusting water pressure in advance.
2. Smoother Video Watching in the Future: AI Predicts Your Needs
The current issues with video streaming, such as lagging or slow loading, are often due to insufficient bandwidth or slow data retrieval. An AI-native network would anticipate your needs by remembering your favorite video types and viewing times, and pre-caching content at the nearest base stations (e.g., right under your house). This way, videos would play immediately without waiting for downloads to complete. If the network quality deteriorates, AI could reduce the video resolution (e.g., from 4K to 1080P) to ensure smooth playback.
3. Safety of Remote Driving: Zero Latency with AI and 6G
The biggest concern with remote driving is slow response times. With 6G, latency is more than ten times lower than with 5G (almost real-time), and combined with AI’s ability to analyze road conditions in real-time (e.g., detecting obstacles ahead), the car can respond faster than a human driver could. AI can also correct any errors in signal transmission, ensuring that commands are executed accurately. This is like playing a real-time game where there is virtually no delay; you press the “attack” button, and the action happens instantly.
4. Is 6G+AI Still Far from Us? Experts’ Views on Implementation
According to experts, the development of 6G+AI is already underway, but it may take 5-10 years before it becomes widely available in daily life (around 2030). However, some small features are already being tested. For instance, AI-based network optimization technologies are being used in certain 5G applications, and remote driving trials have begun in closed areas like ports and mining sites. There are still challenges to overcome, such as the high cost of building additional base stations to support 6G’s high speeds and data privacy concerns. Nevertheless, 6G+AI is likely to first be implemented in specific industries (such as manufacturing and healthcare) before becoming more widespread.
In summary, 6G+AI is not some unattainable “future technology”; it represents practical solutions to real-world problems. smoother video streaming and safer remote driving are just two of the many benefits it can bring.