By: John Shepler

Human communication might not dominate telecom usage for much longer. It started when computers began sharing data over phone lines and sped up when broadband internet connected almost every computer. Even though people currently use the internet for websites, messaging, social media, videos, backups, and work, machines will soon be the primary users, communicating amongst themselves.

The Rise of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence, or AI, has been subtly infiltrating our lives for decades, likely since computers emerged. Search engines, although we might not realize it, heavily rely on AI. Most software incorporates analytical and decision-making capabilities, quietly determining what information is displayed and how, even without directly asking for user preferences.

Recently, there’s been a surge in “chatbots”, smart assistants like Siri and Alexa, and creative writing and image generation tools like ChatGPT. This has fueled immense interest and investment in “Generative AI”, technology that instantly produces new content.

The demand for powerful processors is insatiable, leading to data center expansions and new constructions. One concern is meeting the exponential energy demands of AI, with some data centers being built near power plants to directly access massive amounts of electricity.

How Nuts is This Going to Get?

It seems we’re in an AI frenzy, a speculative bubble anticipating artificial intelligence will quickly replace human jobs. While the computer age has impacted certain roles, it has also created new ones. This AI wave predicts the imminent demise of writers, artists, analysts, coders, customer service agents, and even legal clerks.

However, current chatbots are basic and incapable of solving complex issues. The writing is dull, the artwork is questionable at best, and self-driving technology in unpredictable conditions remains unreliable.

While the current AI hype might be overblown, it doesn’t mean real innovation isn’t happening. The “Internet of Things”, a driving force behind 5G, is one example. Affordable, powerful electronics enable processing and communication in nearly any device. These “things” will logically connect and interact without constant human intervention. As more are deployed, more sophisticated software will be needed to manage them.

What to Likely Expect

Technology will continue to advance, influencing our work and lives. Productivity gains should enhance living standards if managed wisely. This progress will inevitably strain technical infrastructure.

Expect increasing numbers of devices on networks, demanding faster speeds and responses. Bandwidth requirements, both fiber optic and wireless, will significantly increase. 100 Mbps connections are already insufficient, with Gigabit and 10 Gbps becoming standard. 100 Gbps might soon be commonplace, and 1 Tbps a necessity. Data centers may face this reality tomorrow, and access networks shortly after.

How about your business? Are you pushing the limits of your data center or WAN network? We can assist. Get pricing and support on bandwidth and hosting to address your current and future needs before they escalate into a crisis.

Note: This article was not generated by any AI. It was written by one human (myself) who only worries about the machines scraping the Internet and regurgitating copyrighted material far and wide without any thought of compensation to the author, a real and present danger.