February is a significant month when it comes to tech events, readers. Anyone who has perused our GenAI Today news hub, for example, knows that Generative AI Expo 2025 is right around the corner.
As fate has it, same goes for the soon-on-our-doorstep Industrial IoT Conference, part of IoT Evolution Expo 2025 and the broader #TECHSUPERSHOW experience, as a whole.
But as you’re reading, I presume you’re primarily interested in IIoT. So, why have I mentioned the rest of this?
Mainly, because of a specific session happening at our Industrial IoT Conference that also loops in generative AI-focused topics.
Let me explain. (Notably, with help from Srikar Kasarla, Senior Vice President of Technology and R&D at Schneider Electric; read the full Forbes article I’ll be quoting here.)
“In the last decade,” Kasarla wrote, “the Internet of Things has completely changed many industries. IoT has turned the traditional workings of numerous sectors inside out.”
And so too, in many experts’ eyes, has GenAI.
“Combining the power of generative AI and IoT opens up a realm of new opportunities,” Kasarla continued. “[GenAI’s] wide range of capabilities that can enhance IoT [and IIoT] applications include automation, intuitive interfacing via natural language inputs, and data augmentation and anonymization.”
In these veins, Kasarla went on to describe how GenAI can “present a solution by creating synthetic datasets that closely mirror real-world conditions; by generating data that simulates real device telemetry, generative models can enhance the diversity and quality of datasets, addressing issues of data scarcity, imbalance or incompleteness.” We’re also talking about anomaly detection within IoT environments (i.e. allegedly better than traditional threshold-bases systems), the utilization of anonymized datasets “for analysis, development and testing [that aligns with] data protection regulations,” natural language interfaces that simplify users’ questions and other prompts, fostering more user-friendly interactions.
Then of course, automation. Some generative models can schedule recurring tasks, manage device configurations, and optimize resource allocation based on users’ specific preferences, environmental conditions, etc. Additionally, by interpreting natural language commands through user-provided context, generative models “can autonomously control IoT devices, adjust device configuration and execute workflows without explicit human intervention.”
That covers a lot, but there’s definitely more we could discuss; namely, about how data from IIoT devices is mobilized to take worker safety (and the integrity of critical industrial processes) to the next level with generative AI.
And that’s where our aforementioned events re-enter the conversation.
At the upcoming Industrial IoT Conference (which will be taking place from February 11-13 at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida), one session attendees will want to join us for is titled “Generative AI for Worker Safety and Industrial Processes.” This discussion will be led by Kenta Yasukawa, co-founder and CTO of Soracom. (Peruse our past Soracom-focused coverage here and you’ll see why Yasukawa is indeed a great leader for this session.)
This will be happening on Wednesday, February 12 from 1:30-2:00 PM. Consider registering here.
Edited by
Greg Tavarez
