There used to be a distinct, technical separation between terms such as AI and machine learning (ML) – but only while these technologies remained largely theoretical. As soon as they became practical in the real world, and then commodifiable into products, the marketers stepped in. Widespread overuse of the terms AI/ML in marketing have managed to thoroughly confuse the meanings of these words.

Software has eaten the world and every company today is a software company. This is because every company today is more and more serving its customers digitally. That service can be a spectrum, such as offering traditional physical products and services through digital channels on one end to offering entirely new digital products on the other end. Regardless of where on the spectrum a company is, it does not change the fact that its primary interface with its customers has become its software.

5G is here and is widely expected to be a transformative communications technology for the next decade. This new data network will enable never-before-seen data transfer speeds and high-performance remote computing capabilities. Such vast, fast networks will need dedicated tools and practices to be managed, including AI and machine learning processes that will ensure efficient management of network resources and flexibility to meet user demands.