The term “cloud computing” was first used in a contemporary sense by the CEO of Google in 2006. Though network-based computing has a long history, the cloud has transformed distributed and remote access and storage over the past decade. During this time, artificial intelligence and machine learning have begun being implemented in ways that call for immense processing power and data distribution capabilities. This technology works together to sustain the dense information ecology of the 21st century.
Cloud storage enables users and organizations to backup data on remote servers in addition to or instead of their own storage devices. Personal or enterprise applications can also be run from anywhere, on most devices, directly from the cloud. In addition to the almost indefinite expansion of processing power and storage capabilities, the ability to remotely access and share information has become a given. The demand for intelligence that is readily accessible, automatically organized, and constantly updated will only increase. This functionality requires the widespread implementation of automation and machine learning technology.
The cloud plays an essential part in extending the insights of artificial intelligence into everyday life. Individual users access and generate large amounts of unstructured information. The cloud can provide the processing power and storage space necessary to keep and deliver content on demand, respond to queries, and provide automated servers that users are increasingly coming to expect. Machine learning already takes place in the cloud, due to the abundance of processing power. The application of findings through implementation will be distributed across smart devices.
The cloud is also critical to the design and operation of real-world infrastructure. Population experts estimate that up to six billion people will live in urban areas in by the year 2045. All of the technology in these crowded environments will rely on uplinks to the cloud to deliver individualized data and services. The cloud will also play a critical role in extending information availability to remote or rural areas. This is particularly the case as related technologies such as autonomous vehicles, expanded mass transportation, and smarter utilities begin to rely on insights derived from artificial intelligence to provide more intuitive services.
Security vulnerabilities are a major obstacle to universal cloud-based implementation. Privacy will continue to be a fundamental concern, and may be another area in which artificial intelligence is capable of automating and monitoring a wide variety of security processes. Some IT trailblazers also anticipate the emergence of hybrid architectures referred to as Computing Cells that will provide authentication, encryption, and security services across clouds.
Cloud computing will continue to be critical in the future as it provides data processing and storage capabilities that exceed the resources of single users, organizations, or platforms. The simultaneous emergence of cloud technology and artificial intelligence point the way toward a future where all users will benefit from the instant availability of practically unlimited information that is structured and implemented in ways that are customizable, intuitive, and responsive.
