The term AI is tossed around so much these days that it’s borderline obscene. Every company claims to use AI, but more often than not, it’s just marketing hype. From AI-powered toothbrushes to smart fridges—it’s easy to be skeptical about how much AI really improves our lives. Still, could some AI applications actually be useful? Verizon thinks so, which is why the carrier has announced it is making upgrades to its network by enhancing it using AI.
Verizon’s AI upgrades
Verizon has announced a collaboration with Samsung and Qualcomm to upgrade its network and ensure its customers enjoy the best performance possible. This collaboration will use Samsung’s AI-powered Energy Saving Manager (AI-ESM) and Qualcomm’s recently announced Dragonwing RAN Automation Suite.
If all of this sounds like techno mambo-jumbo to you, basically, all you need to know is that Verizon will help make better network optimizations by leveraging AI technology. This is achieved by allowing the AI to make decisions based on current network conditions. For instance, using the large-scale vRAN network built by Samsung and Verizon, the network can automatically switch off transmission paths when traffic is low. This can help conserve power. It can then turn it back on when more users need to connect to it.
You might ask, shouldn’t this be SOP for carriers worldwide? Obviously, yes. However, unlike 4G, 5G ushers in speeds we’ve never seen on networks before. In fact, 5G is fast enough, and some companies are considering replacing traditional WiFi with 5G for processes like factory automation. In addition to speed, this also has to do with range. Cellular networks cover a much greater area than that tiny router sitting in the corner of your factory.
Start of a new era
Unlike some of the questionable integrations we’ve seen in products that don’t actually need AI, Verizon’s use of the tech makes sense. We won’t deny that Verizon probably relies on the term “AI” to build up hype around its upgrades. But at the same time, these upgrades feel tangible.
By integrating AI with Open RAN technology, Verizon is creating a network that can adapt in real-time. It can also improve efficiency in ways human engineers can’t at this scale. Additionally, it doesn’t lock the carrier into using equipment made by one particular company. This could lead to smarter energy use and better network responsiveness.
Of course, it’s still too early to tell how effective these upgrades are. If Verizon’s AI-powered upgrades deliver as promised, this could mark the beginning of a smarter, more efficient era for mobile networks—one where AI isn’t just a buzzword and AI-powered electric toothbrushes become nothing but a distant memory.