Will AI Supplant IoT?

It might be inaccurate or too early to determine whether the touted “fourth industrial revolution” is coming, and, if so, what the hallmark will be. Some have argued that the “internet of things” underpins such an advance, but there are likely going to be growing arguments that artificial intelligence is a better moniker. 

Up to this point, many in the manufacturing ecosystem have been talking about “industry 4.0,” for example, making IoT the focal point. 

But there is an argument to be made that AI will eventually be seen as a general-purpose technology that underpins many, perhaps most industries, as GPTs tend to do. If so, AI will probably emerge as the more-widely-accepted description. 

As sometimes happens, multiple technology platforms will combine to create new platforms. One of the supposed hallmarks of 5G mobile networks, for example, is the emphasis on “machine-to-machine” communications to support IoT. But sensors and the ability to automate machine actions based on real-time data also is crucial for IoT and “smarter” infrastructure and appliances. 

And since most of us expect AI to be a part of virtually every process, it will be hard to clearly delineate the impact of AI as compared to IoT (networked, sensing machines). And industrial processes, while important in their own right, have led to vast changes across societies, beyond manufacturing. 

Industrial Revolution	Key Advances	Description
First (18th Century)	Steam Engine, Mechanization	Transition from manual labor to machine-powered production.
Second (19th Century)	Assembly Line, Electricity	Mass production using standardized parts and assembly lines powered by electricity.
Third (20th Century)	Electronics, Computers, Internet	Automation using electronics and computers, leading to digitization of processes.
Fourth (Present)	AI, IoT, Robotics	Integration of cyber-physical systems, automation, and intelligent machines powered by AI and fueled by data from interconnected devices (IoT).

There always are many new technologies developing commercially. But most are not GPTs. And it is GPTs that have the most far-reaching effects.