By Alan Hayward, Sales and Marketing Manager at SEH Technology
Generative AI has been one of the hottest technology topics of 2023 with McKinsey finding that generative AI tools have already been used by many, with 79% of respondents having already had at least some exposure. Sectors are already being transformed and networking is no exception. Networks are foundational for digital transformations today; without them, the technologies that users take for granted would not be able to function.
In addition, generative AI will not only require the right networking foundations but conversely will also be able to offer benefits by improving networks through pattern analysis. Underpinning all of this needs to be trust and the next era of artificial intelligence poses many ethical considerations that require unpacking, technologies require the trust of people to make a real difference.
Laying the foundations
It’s easy to look at artificial intelligence without looking at the networks required for it to function. Over the last few years, virtual assistants have soared in popularity and users without high-quality network connections are being left behind. As the aforementioned survey reveals, many have had their first interactions with AI but this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the adoption of AI-related technologies.
What’s been evident this year is an explosion of interest in Large Language Models (LLMs) and generative AI. These new technologies are very intensive from a networking point of view with far more computing resources required, compared to previous uses of AI. This is going to make having the right networking foundations in place even more critical, so businesses can make the most of the opportunities while end users don’t get frustrated with a poor end-user experience, after all, to be successful AI needs to help not hinder.
Improving Networks
Networks today are under strain, with data volumes exponentially increasing and an expectation that data transfers can happen in the shortest possible time frames. AI and other emerging technologies will add to the burden, but in the case of artificial intelligence, it can also have a positive impact on networking infrastructures by aiding with analytical tasks.
Understanding how networks operate is vital to ensure their success and AI can help IT teams to identify where issues are occurring along with the causes. As networks become more complex they can also benefit from machine learning, so that predictions can be made, to prevent problems even before they arise. Security is another area of networking that can benefit from emerging technologies, with cyberattacks a constant threat, AI technologies can be incorporated to mitigate threats and keep data flowing.
Ethical Considerations
Trust is key to the success of any technology and conversations around generative are often tinged with ethical considerations. In a recent survey, the ISACA discovered that disinformation and misinformation are the top risks associated with generative AI according to 77% of respondents. Furthermore, 41% of respondents said that not enough attention is being paid to the ethical standards of AI implementation. Generative AI is one of the biggest technological shifts in history and understandably many are worried about the risks but are fears preventing meaningful change?
There is certainly a fear of the unknown when it comes to AI and much of that is due to a lack of understanding. Thomson Reuters has said that in order to trust artificial intelligence, people need to be able to understand how an AI system ultimately arrives at conclusions. This is because human beings have a desire to acquire explanations and to also provide them. People interact with AI in their daily lives but there is a complexity and scale to generative AI that can make it particularly daunting. Explanation needs to be given great consideration when developing and not just implementing AI. Without this happening, the gains could be missed and people left behind in an age of technological advancement.
The next era of networking is dawning
When looking at generative AI from a networking perspective, it’s clear that there are many potential benefits to be gained from its implementation. From networking optimisation to security, already stretched IT teams need solutions to deal with growing complexities and threats. However, as with any technology, the matter of trust can’t be left off the table so ethical considerations must be put front of mind so that the networking sector doesn’t fall behind the adoption curve.
