Question : How does AI, IoT and Blockchain work together

Look at the diagram below to get an idea.

Artificial Intelligence gets layered over the IoT platform while the data from external sources flows through the Blockchain platform. Even the data exchange within the IoT network can happen over Blockchain to ensure traceability and recording of all transactions. Multiple IoT networks can exchange data while the power of AI will get exponentially enhanced with more data. The trinity of these technologies will not only help increase efficiency but also help businesses deliver better customer service.

EXAMPLES OF USING IOT WITH BLOCKCHAIN

The usage of IoT with Blockchain is already gaining momentum. IBM’s Watson IoT platform integrates well with Blockchain (backed by Hyperledger Fabric) effectively combining the two technologies. Similarly, Azure IoT also has good integration with Ethereum, Corda and Hyperledger Fabric. Below are some of the examples of using Blockchain in conjunction with IoT :

• Blockchain can be used to record and timestamp the sensor data. This way the data from the sensors would not be manipulated and can be trusted by all the parties in the transaction. In Smart Cities, multiple entities are collecting and acting on data. The data can be trusted easily by use of Blockchains. Use of Blockchain in Smart City can even enable the citizens/entities to sell their data and get paid via bitcoins.
• IoT has multiple devices and the devices are authenticated based on digital certificates rendering the devices vulnerable to security breaches. Blockchain can create the digital identity of the devices so that they cannot be manipulated. Also, the information about the devices can be dynamically updated leading to higher scalability.
• Provenance of a product can be established using IoT and Blockchain. IoT sensors can be placed on the medicine packets. The sensors can trace and record as the medicine packets move from the factory to the distributor to the retailers using the distributed ledger of Blockchain. IoT sensors with Blockchain can go a long way in getting around the problem of fake medicines in many of the emerging markets.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND IOT

In earlier times, codes were written and machines would perform as per the software code. The machines brought productivity gains by making processes efficient but failed to do things that they were not coded for. Humans know more than what they can train others and for this very reason machines could never compete with humans in the past. However, now with artificial intelligence and deep learning, it is possible to train machines by making them experience different situations. The algorithms get better with time. This is a revolution and can be effectively used in IoT. IoT means a lot of data. With help of AI, IoT platforms can get the ability to recognize meaningful patterns buried in mountains of data and take decisions difficult even for humans.

IoT platforms are already using machine language which is a sub set of Artificial Intelligence. With full fledged Artificial Intelligence, IoT platforms would be akin to being on steroids. To achieve the full benefit of IoT, not only the speed of analysis is important but also the accuracy of analysis. The decisions made by IoT platforms would get better over time as the AI platform learns with experience.

Predictive maintenance is an area of interest to many manufacturers. The endeavor is always to cut down on the downtime, increase machine availability without increasing expenditure on maintenance. SK Innovation, a leading South Korean oil refiner, is using artificial intelligence to predict the failure of connected compressors. AI based systems have helped save Google 40% of data centers cooling costs by predicting the temperature and pressure thereby limiting the energy usage. All major IoT platforms like Azure IoT, AWS IoT, etc. now have machine learning for predictive capabilities already incorporated but going forward the deep learning capabilities would become more commonplace.