Intel’s 2021 Predictions for AI & the Rise of the Intelligent Edge

Founded in 1968, Intel’s technology has been at the heart of computing breakthroughs.  They stand at the brink of several technology inflections—artificial intelligence (AI), 5G network transformation, and the rise of the intelligent edge—that together will shape the future of technology.

Thought Leaders at Intel had the following 2021 predictions to share:

Christine Boles, VP, IoT Group and GM, Industrial Solutions Division, Intel

“The pandemic has greatly accelerated the need for companies to complete their Industry 4.0 transformations with solutions that allow them to have more flexibility, visibility and efficiency in their operations. We’ll see an acceleration of adoption of solutions that help address that need, ranging from AI including machine learning, machine vision and advanced analytics. As the economy bounces back, we’ll continue to see investment in the foundational OT infrastructure with more IT capabilities to allow the broad ecosystem of players to deploy these solutions and will see Industry 4.0 adoption significantly ramp up in 2021.”

Joe Jensen, VP, IoT Group and GM, Retail, Banking, Hospitality & Education, Intel

“In 2021, shifting to Education-as-a-Service will become a priority, and I expect advances in education policy and investment to drive this concept forward. It will be critical to shift funding and allocations to schools to advance this service model, to ensure that affordable and high-quality education is accessible to all students. Longer-term, Education As-A-Service will become the standard for education across the globe.”

Joe Jensen, VP, IoT Group and GM, Retail, Banking, Hospitality & Education, Intel

“Micro-fulfillment centers have enabled smaller retailers to keep up with online retail giants during the pandemic. Over the next year, we will see the ‘warehouse-ization’ of retail – with retailers shifting focus to fulfilling orders, whether they be groceries or consumer goods, at micro-fulfillment locations. This will provide a savings and operational boon especially for smaller retailers, for enabling decreased rents and customer foot traffic.

In the long-term, retailers will continue to reply on seamless, convenient solutions like dark stores to cost effectively serve delivery customers. To be a ‘winner’ in the changing retail space, retailers must transform production methods in creative ways to meet customer expectations.”

Alex Quach, VP and GM, Wireline and Core Network, Intel

“Virtualization in the core network will hit a tipping point growing from 50%, to more than 80% of core network workloads to be virtualized in 2024, and we also expect the majority of the leading 5G Operators to start 5G SA Core Deployments in 2021.”

Cristina Rodriguez, Vice President and General Manager, Wireless Access Network Division, Intel

“With the network transforming at high-speeds, 2021 will see Massive MIMO deployment on vRAN architecture at scale (i.e. beyond trial phase, at thousands of sites).”

Sameer Sharma, GM, Smart Cities and Intelligent Transportation, Intel

“2021 will be a breakout year for smart and resilient cities, infrastructure and transportation. In the short-term, we’ll see a sharp increase of mid-size cities adopting smart cities technology, which will lead to the democratization of technology outside of the usual tech hubs. Longer-term, smart cities infrastructure will be adopted in more rural areas, as consumers start to see the benefits for quality of life.

To reach this future, we’ll also see a ramp up in technology investments, from the Edge (AI) to the (5G) network to the cloud. As cities continue to recover from the pandemic, technology will be a key driver in ensuring progress and adoption of new business models, leading to economic growth.”

Stacey Shulman, VP, IoT Group and GM, Health, Life Sciences and Emerging Technologies, Intel

“One of the things that is currently holding the healthcare industry back is standardizing medical records and data sharing across organizations. Collaboration in the medical industry for the purpose of solving illness and health issues can be critical, especially when it comes to public health crises and tracking population health, as we have seen with the pandemic this year.

In 2021, we will see improvement in the delivery models for information sharing, as emerging technologies such AI and federated learning become more ubiquitous in healthcare. In addition to powering innovations like telehealth, these technologies will accelerate and streamline the collaboration process, making it easier for healthcare professionals to deliver quality care to their patients as well as stay up to date on new treatment options.”

Rick Echevarria,VP, Sales, Marketing, and Communications Group and GM, Olympic Program, Intel 

 “In 2021, AI, 5G and edge computing will help athletes improve their athletic performance while transforming the way fans experience their favorite sports in a safe and interactive way, whether virtually, over broadcast or with a safe return to in-person.”