The Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence: What does the future hold?

The Internet of Things enables things that humans can’t do, but it also poses security challenges. Artificial intelligence overcomes these limitations and creates added value in healthcare. The convergence of the two will enrich the lives of future generations.

 

Not only in Korea, but all over the world, the winds of industry through electronic networks are blowing strongly. With the development of the electronic industry, other industries have also evolved. Instead of paying with money through people, electronic payments are being made through smartphones. Before you park your car, sensors attached to the spots in the parking lot provide information about the availability of vacant spots. The network is enabling things that humans can’t do. The medium is networked objects such as smartphones. The network of these objects is called the Internet of Things. As mentioned in the example, the Internet of Things is the backbone of the modern information society. But are there any risks that come with the benefits of the Internet of Things? Let’s discuss them.
The Internet of Things is responsible for organizing the exchange of information between objects. However, it’s hard to see patterns or realize that someone has manipulated the information. The person managing the distribution of packages cannot recognize the regularity of the distribution of packages by day of the week, nor can they recognize if someone switches packages maliciously. The Internet of Things cannot recognize patterns or protect itself from hackers. It desperately needs help to overcome these limitations. That help is artificial intelligence.
The Internet of Things allows a single device to receive all the data between objects over a network. However, this advantage also makes it a perfect prey for hackers. Shodan, a network called the “dark Google”, provides information about devices around the world that are connected to the Internet. The information provided by Shodan is materialized in several steps. First, it accesses the device through its network. Second, it finds a backdoor that allows it to access information such as the device’s password without authentication. Third, the information is delivered to the user who searched for it with Shodan.
Shodan adds more than 500 million devices to its search engine every month. With this massive scale comes massive risk. Network services like Shodan leave plenty of room for unethical behavior by infiltrating security networks through the Internet of Things in businesses and even homes. However, the pace at which laws are being written about networks hasn’t kept pace with the crimes being committed. For example, let’s say a robot vacuum cleaner’s forward-facing CCTV connected to the Internet of Things is hacked. This leads to an invasion of privacy in your home through the robot vacuum’s camera. If the Internet of Things that manages a country’s electricity is hacked, it could cause an entire city to lose power and cause astronomical damage. However, there are no laws in place to punish this behavior.
This is where artificial intelligence comes in. When information on the Internet of Things is hacked, the device reveals the software damage. At that moment, AI can trigger security programs to prevent further damage. Attacked packets are blocked and filters are created inside. The blocking filtering is updated instantly to protect the network’s bandwidth. In short, it automatically analyzes who is responsible for the hack in the first place. After that, the organization is constantly preparing for future attacks. This ensures a smooth flow of information.
In addition, the damage doesn’t stop at software, it can also be physical. Imagine a computer virus infiltrating the power grid. An AI that has data on typical situations can determine whether a virus has entered the grid by looking at the strength of the current or voltage. Like a fuse that blows when there’s too much current, AI can trigger security programs to catch the virus. Of course, catching the virus won’t be easy, but at least you’ll have a defense system in place to stop the hack.
In addition to preventing damage, AI can be used in conjunction with the Internet of Things to create additional value. In hospitals, sensors attached to people’s body parts can be used to diagnose a patient’s condition and prescribe appropriate treatment. They can check blood pressure, blood sugar, and overall health status of a person. This way, the diagnosis can be made based on objective data rather than the patient’s subjective words. Even if the patient is unable to speak, useful data from sensors can be used to make a diagnosis. However, if AI is added to this, data analysis becomes possible. First, it stores the physical data of previous patients when they were sick. Then, it analyzes the physical condition of a patient with a certain condition, and finally, it shows the probability that the condition can lead to various diseases. In short, it creates big data for medicine. In Japan’s aging society, welfare issues have become a major problem. The Japanese government uses medical big data to optimize the distribution of limited medical resources. It also strengthens the competitiveness of the medical and health sector by predicting future disease outbreaks for each individual. This goes beyond simply assisting doctors and replaces some of their roles.
AI can be of great help not only inside the hospital, but also outside. A person’s physical condition at home, connected to a nearby hospital and the Internet of Things, is fed information about their body index. If, in the opinion of the AI, there is a change in the body index that is life-threatening, this is an emergency. In such a case, an ambulance can be immediately sent to take action.
In summary, there are ways to compensate for the negative effects of the Internet of Things with AI. In addition, AI can act as a catalyst to break through the limitations of the Internet of Things. In the upcoming future, AI and the Internet of Things will be collaborative partners. Their successful convergence should pave the way for a safer and more fulfilling life for future generations.