Telecom Companies Could Be Memory Keepers in the AI Era
Telecom operators aim to take on a larger role in the artificial intelligence value chain by becoming secure intelligence and memory providers for subscribers.
Telecommunication operators are discussing going beyond merely acting as data carriers in the artificial intelligence value chain, aiming to transform subscribers' personal context into a secure intelligence layer and deliver personalized AI experiences.
The Search for a New Role in the AI Value Chain
Even as artificial intelligence traffic passes through their networks, telecom operators struggle to increase their average revenue per user simply by selling connectivity. This situation is driving operators to seek new ways to become indispensable in the AI era.
Vision for a Personal AI and Memory Layer
According to Personal AI founder Suman Kanuganti, telecom companies can function like human memory containing subscribers' habits and preferences, creating an intelligence layer that powers personalized artificial intelligence experiences.
Privacy, Security, and Consumer Control
Kanuganti states that telecom operators are already trusted custodians of subscriber information and that final control in this vision will always lie with consumers, who will determine which applications and services can access this memory profile.
Revenue Models and Ways to Monetize
According to the proposed model, operators could demand 15 to 20 percent higher revenues for intelligence access integrated into basic subscriptions, charge applications for data access, or offer APIs to developers.
Experts' Doubts Regarding Consumer Acceptance
Joe Madden, founder of Mobile Experts, compares the idea to cookies on steroids, noting serious doubts about whether consumers would be willing to pay for such a service since they are already profiled by social media platforms.
Next Steps and Global Discussions
Kanuganti states that discussions with C-level executives of major telecommunications companies worldwide are already underway, and that the true turning point will be de-risking when the first operator goes live.