AI's impact on the IoT

Mobile World Congress (MWC26), the world’s premier connectivity event, once again opened its doors to industry leaders, decision makers and policy setters The event was awash with AI, but does AI already deliver value for the IoT? And where could it take things next?

Top 3 takeaways on AI in the IoT

1. AI-integrated IoT, or AIoT, is already at work in the IoT
2. AI-powered anomaly and threat detection provides visibility into devices and flags potential threats
3.  AI’s automation and analytical capabilities will support future IoT enhancements for efficiency, productivity and resilience. 

The IoT and AI are transforming the way we live and work. The technologies are complementary: IoT generates and captures extensive data, which AI is ideally placed to analyse. When the technologies combine in this way, we have AI-integrated IoT, or AIoT.

It is a powerful mix and one that can take the IoT to the next level. And its influence is set to grow with Transforma Insights forecasting AIoT connections to rise from 1.4 billion at the end of 2023 to 9.1 billion at the end of 2033, a more than six-fold increase in 10 years.

We know IoT solutions have multiple elements from device to network to cloud environment and, not forgetting, enterprise processes. Wireless Logic believes AI-enhanced IoT starts with security, but AI’s influence won’t end there. Its automation and analytical capabilities can support a range of IoT enhancements for efficiency, productivity and resilience.

Where is AI already at work in the IoT?

Technology respondents to an IEEE survey last year ranked real-time cybersecurity vulnerability identification and attack prevention the top use of AI applications in 2026.

This stands to reason, because if cyberattacks go undetected or unresolved, they can cause operational challenges and even lead to a loss of reputation and potential financial penalties. AI is well-placed to enhance IoT security because it can see what we cannot.

Wireless Logic’s anomaly and threat detection (ATD) is already AI-powered and making a difference for customers. It actively protects 1 million+ IoT devices, providing visibility into IoT devices and solutions and flagging any activity that needs investigation.

With ATD, companies can detect the first signs of cyberattacks against IoT systems and act to mitigate the threats by, for example, throttling bandwidth to stop a device communicating into the network, or isolating a device within a restricted zone.

ATD detects:

• Suspicious IPs
• Device backdoors
• Remote code execution
• Evidence of misconfigured devices
• Abnormal port connections
• Botnet detection
• Operational insights about ports and protocols.

It doesn’t require any software agents to be installed on IoT devices, is fully scalable and does not compromise data privacy or system performance because it is completely blind to applications running in the environment. Only packet headers from device-cloud communications are inspected by the AI engine.

ATD’s AI program analyses data feeds and scores any potential threats. It ‘learns’ what is normal according to thresholds set by business rules, which also determine what happens next.

Threats can trigger direct action automatically to, for example, isolate the threat. Alternatively, threats can be sent for review, which is a useful flexibility to have because a SIM may increase or cease communication for very genuine reasons.

ATD’s AI engine can also analyse identified anomalies to pinpoint attack types such as distributed denial-of-service (DDoS), man-in-the-middle (MiTM) or device takeovers.

Where will AI be used in the IoT?

Enterprises need secure, intelligent, globally scalable solutions that deliver meaningful insights and measurable business outcomes. Security is a priority starting point for AI in the IoT, but automation and analytics can also help enterprises with:

• Real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance and fast fault resolution
• Reduced manual intervention and lower operating costs
• Improved network reliability and energy efficiency
• Intelligent analysis
• Real-time usage, performance and anomaly analysis
• Proactive remediation and continuous profile tuning.

How Wireless Logic uses AI in IoT connectivity solutions

AI is already at work in Wireless Logic’s ATD and the IoT infrastructure is AI-ready.

Wireless Logic continues to plan further AI integrations to enhance intelligence and automation in the IoT and help businesses deploy optimised end-to-end IoT solutions. Get in touch to discuss your IoT needs. You can find out more about using AI-driven ATD to get early warnings of IoT cyberattacks from our webinar.