Watch What They Do, Not What They Say

Whenever a hot new technology comes along, executives in the connectivity industry seem required to embrace it and explain how they will be using it. With few exceptions, this is a distraction.

Sure, artificial intelligence will be used to design and manage complex networks, as much automation has been used in the past. But, for the most part, AI does not seem to represent a huge new product or service opportunity for connectivity providers.

We'll be hearing differently, of course. But past experience suggests it is mostly talk.

Matters are different for data center services providers, given the key role AI factories represent. Obviously, compute infrastructure is a requirement for AI training and inference, so direct revenue streams are created for providers of the compute function.

Direct and substantial participation above the infrastructure level will be less common.

But some of the usefulness will come from use of embodied AI (physical robots, drones, and autonomous systems) in managing and maintaining the physical infrastructure.

Industry	Affected Business Process/Product	Embodied AI Application	Extent of Impact	Source Link
Data Centers	Facility Inspection & Monitoring (HVAC, Power, Security)	Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) (e.g., quadruped robots like Spot) equipped with thermal and acoustic sensors perform routine, 24/7 inspections of servers, cooling units, and power systems.	High (Drives down operational costs, enables predictive maintenance by detecting anomalies like hot spots or leaks that humans miss, enhances worker safety.)	YMK Technology Group - Data Center Operation and Maintenance Robot
Data Centers	Hardware Maintenance & Repair	Robotic Arms / Specialized Robots used for delicate tasks like reseating or cleaning optical transceivers, or replacing fiber cables within server racks (part of the "self-maintaining system" vision).	Medium (Emerging) (Significantly reduces the Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) for network issues, lowers risk of human error in sensitive equipment, and improves system availability.)	Microsoft - The rise of datacenter robotics!
Communications, Connectivity	Infrastructure Inspection (Cell Towers, Fiber Routes)	AI-enabled Drones or UAVs for autonomous visual and thermal inspection of remote cell towers, antennas, and long-distance fiber optic lines.	High (Improves network uptime by speeding up fault detection, eliminates the need for manual, dangerous, and time-consuming physical inspections, and keeps Digital Twins updated.)	ANYbotics - Automate industrial inspection
Data Centers, Edge Computing	Physical Security and Access Control	Autonomous Security Robots that patrol the perimeter and interior, using computer vision to detect unauthorized entry, identify anomalies, and guide personnel to specific locations.	Medium (Augments human security teams, provides a continuous, data-logging security presence, and supports intelligent guidance of maintenance staff.)	NTT DATA - Smart Robotics in Action
Communications,  Connectivity	Energy Efficiency & Sustainability (Indirect)	AI-driven Cooling Infrastructure (While the AI is informational, its effect on the physical cooling systems is profound). AI adjusts the physical state of the cooling (e.g., dampers, pumps) in real-time.	Very High (Directly reduces the Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of the physical data center, leading to massive energy and cost savings.)	Flexential - AI Data Centers: The Future of AI Infrastructure

Industry	Embodied AI Use Case	Affected Business Process	Extent of Impact
Retail	Autonomous Inventory Robots (e.g., in-store floor-scanning robots)	Inventory Management & Auditing: Real-time scanning of shelves to check stock levels, identify misplaced items, and confirm pricing.	Greater: Improves stock accuracy, reduces manual labor, and enables predictive ordering.
Transportation	Autonomous Freight Trucks & Robotaxis	Logistics & Delivery: Self-driving commercial vehicles for long-haul trucking and last-mile delivery.	Greater: Reduces fuel consumption (route optimization), enables 24/7 operation, and lowers labor costs.
Logistics	Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) & Drones	Warehouse Operations: Automated picking, packing, sorting, and movement of goods within warehouses and fulfillment centers.	Greater: Enhances operational efficiency, increases throughput, and improves order accuracy.
Computing	AI-Driven Infrastructure/Utility Inspection Drones	Predictive Maintenance & Safety: Drones with computer vision to inspect power grids, pipelines, or infrastructure for defects/anomalies.	Lesser/Greater: Improves safety (avoiding human risk), enables proactive repairs, and extends asset lifespan.
Content (Consumer Tech)	Robotic Assistants (e.g., Smart Home Devices/Humanoids)	Personal Assistance/Service Delivery: Physical robots or integrated AI systems that provide hands-on help or concierge services.	Lesser: Enhances customer experience and allows human employees to focus on more complex tasks.