AI is rapidly reshaping IoT operations, promising greater uptime, optimized support services, and a shift from reactive firefighting to preemptive decision-making. With its ability to detect anomalies, predict failures, and trigger automated responses, AI can enhance efficiency and security.
In the Asia Pacific, AI spending is expected to reach $175 billion by 2028, reflecting the region’s growing appetite for smarter, more resilient digital infrastructure. But while AI offers significant gains, businesses must not overlook the potential security threats it brings. The success of AI-powered IoT operations depends on the resilience of the networks they are running on.
The infrastructure conversation
Fast-scaling global enterprises often focus on what AI can deliver – rather than whether the infrastructure beneath it is up to the task. Yet without resilient connectivity, AI systems can magnify risk instead of mitigating it. Complex, interdependent environments demand more than visibility. They need assurance that systems will keep functioning when problems occur. Even the most advanced algorithms are only as effective as the networks that support them.
In IoT environments, resilience isn’t just about uptime. It’s about the ability to maintain continuity through disruption. That includes fallback options, multi-network access, real-time monitoring, and local recovery capabilities that allow operations to continue even when the unexpected happens. These capabilities must be embedded at every single layer – from devices and connectivity to cloud systems and support.
Visibility is not the same as continuity
AI excels at highlighting what’s gone wrong or where it’s about to go wrong. But while anomaly detection, predictive analytics, and automated alerts offer powerful insights, they don’t always guarantee continuity. Visibility is only part of the resilience equation. What matters is the ability to respond to those insights without losing operational integrity.
If a network drops, AI-generated alerts may never reach the right systems. If a device lacks local buffering, key data could be lost during an outage. True resilience means continuing to function during disruption, not just reacting to it. For that, enterprises need a connectivity strategy built for continuity as well as control.
That includes robust SIM and network design, with options such as multi-IMSI or eSIM, and automated behaviors that allow systems to degrade without chaos. Devices must be able to shift into low-power mode, reroute connectivity, and store critical data until they can reconnect.
These capabilities are already available but are often overlooked in the rush to adopt AI-driven functionality.
Also often overlooked is the fact that AI brings with it security considerations of its own. The threat landscape in APAC is particularly active, having experienced the highest number of cyberattacks globally in 2024. In such a high-threat environment, businesses, their networks, and providers must understand the risks and act with strength to mitigate them.
Planning to fail (gracefully)
Resilience means planning for what happens when it doesn’t. AI can reduce surprise failures, but it can’t eliminate them entirely. That’s why recovery planning is a central part of today’s IoT strategy. From embedded fail-safes and redundant infrastructure to automated alerting and decentralised processing, systems must be built with failure in mind.
In high-stakes environments like healthcare or transport, the cost of downtime is high – and regulators are watching. In Singapore, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has tightened standards with its Best Practices Guide for Medical Device Cybersecurity, signalling a clear expectation: cyber resilience must be built in, not bolted on. Systems must be able to fail safely, with localized control and uninterrupted data capture. That demands a security-by-design mindset, one that bakes resilience into device firmware, connectivity contracts, and data platforms from day one.
It also means working with connectivity partners who offer more than access. Enterprises need visibility into how services are performing, where vulnerabilities lie, and how to respond when issues arise. Platforms that integrate data from across the network stack, from SIM to application, are key to understanding and acting on AI insights.
Humans and machines working together
If AI is the engine of smarter IoT operations, humans are still the drivers. To deliver real value, insights must be accessible and actionable. That means clear interfaces, contextual alerts and escalation processes that connect AI analysis to the right human decisions. It also means educating teams on what AI can and can’t do – and where it needs support.
Connectivity management platforms are crucial. By combining AI detection with real-time device health, usage metrics, and network status, they create a shared operating picture. Engineers can understand what’s happening, why it matters, and what to do next. And when systems need to act automatically, those actions are based on accurate, current data from trusted sources.
A smarter future, built on resilient foundations
Looking ahead, AI will continue to drive innovation across the IoT ecosystem, paving the way for new levels of automation, optimization, and insight. When the goal is continuous improvement, downtime is more than an inconvenience – it’s a risk to reputation, revenue, and regulation – so a secure and resilient connectivity layer is non-negotiable.
Whether an organization is rolling out telematics, supporting smart manufacturing, or scaling EV chargepoint networks, its first priority should be resilience. AI can make your operations smarter, but only if the networks and platforms supporting it are up to the task. That means choosing partners who understand not just AI’s potential, but how to make it practical, secure, and sustainable.
Syed Natashrul is the Head of Asia Pacific (APAC) at Wireless Logic.
TNGlobal INSIDER publishes contributions relevant to entrepreneurship and innovation. You may submit your own original or published contributions subject to editorial discretion.
Featured image: BENCE BOROS on Unsplash