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Data generated by edge devices is estimated to grow over 500% between 2019 and 2025. By that time, 175 zettabytes of data will have been created around the globe, and a projected 55 billion edge devices will produce more than 90 zettabytes of that data. Transmitting information back to a centralized data center can result in bandwidth, latency and connectivity issues that cost valuable time and resources.

To manage these explosive data volumes, public sector organizations must develop a strategy to bring operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) together. Many have committed to developing edge environments that are agile, smart, and scalable to tackle challenges more efficiently and effectively. Enter artificial intelligence (AI).

AI already serves as a key driver for today's commercial companies to improve and optimize how they run their businesses. Through the power of AI, agencies too can leverage data at scale for revolutionary autonomy, operational control, and predictive analytics. These capabilities enable more informed, data-driven decisions to solve significant technology and business problems in real-time.

Driving innovation and performance with intelligent edge technologies

Public sector entities must run AI workloads right at the edge to enable groundbreaking results when and where they are needed most. Bringing edge and AI together creates the intelligent edge. Using AI to process and analyze data locally – at the source of data collection – means reaping the benefits of real-time actionable insight, autonomous responses, and predicting what's coming next. Those that invest in intelligent edge technologies will have the ability to outperform their competitors with more direct control and seamless data analysis from anywhere – driving agility and innovation that results in new revenue streams and modernizes operations from end-to-end.

"Operating at the edge is not merely a way to run specific types of workloads for a single use case or to address isolated problems as they arise. Instead, the intelligent edge will become essential to run hundreds of applications for a growing number of use cases and revolutionize the way we think, work, collaborate, and evolve," said Joe Vidal, Master Technologist, Office of the North America CTO, Hewlett Packard Enterprise. AI is the key to unlock insights on demand with increased precision, improving organization-wide visibility into every operating location, system, and device."

Finding the right implementation strategy and solutions

By 2024, the number of applications at the edge will skyrocket by an astounding 800%. Despite the vast potential of the intelligent edge, many projects fail to reach production. AI at the edge requires massive amounts of data streaming from countless devices, which makes these applications difficult to build and scale. As a result, organizations in the public sector are looking for the right strategy to operationalize AI applications at the edge.

To realize the full potential of the intelligent edge, disruptors are developing solutions to harness real-time AI analytics when, where, and how they need it. A comprehensive approach to unite AI and edge computing is critical to extract deeper insights not previously possible for data.  Specific technology features that will create edge environments expertly engineered for AI include robust edge infrastructure, edge-to-data center deployments, and automatic prediction and control. The right solutions, like those from Hewlett Packard Enterprise, will be future-proof, enabling faster results to address changing requirements and uncover new opportunities—with cost savings through higher utilization of shared information, so companies can avoid overspending.

Transform now for mission success 

Agencies must transform now to make use of edge data for faster, smarter decision-making. Disruptors at the forefront of edge computing trends that implement the latest AI tools and capabilities across all operations can shift their mission objectives from planning to reality, fast.  The intelligent edge is the modern battleground to gain competitive advantage. Those that become disruptors can expect lasting impacts, from improved performance today to quicker responsiveness and modernization tomorrow. 

There's no question that AI at the edge delivers the insights and intelligence that will forever change how the public sector manages, processes, and leverages its data. However, expanding the use of AI is not a delineated task. It encompasses a wide range of technologies, tools, capabilities, and use cases that are all critical to business impact, evolution, and increasingly better results.  Organizations must carefully consider the capabilities required to reach their goals at the intelligent edge and succeed.

For more information on what it means for public sector entities to implement "the intelligent edge," access the on-demand version of our Public Sector Tech Talk, Converting the Edge from Danger Zone to Intelligent Hub, as we dive into more specifics and provide more detailed recommendations.

Public Sector Tech Talk E29: Converting the Edge from Danger Zone to Intelligent Hub STREAM NOW

Technologies