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Edge AI and private 5G are made for each other

Coen or Sander Season 3 Episode 9

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0:00 | 25:52

At NTT Upgrade 2026, Paul Bloudoff, senior director of Edge AI at NTT Data, discusses with us how edge computing, private 5G, and physical AI are transforming manufacturing operations. We talk about the symbiotic relationship between edge AI and private 5G connectivity, and focus on how manufacturers can achieve real-time insights and automation on the factory floor.

During our conversation, Bloudoff talks about real-world examples, including Cargill's deployment of private 5G across 50+ manufacturing facilities, and explains how NTT Data delivers full-stack solutions from sensors to cloud infrastructure. The conversation covers predictive maintenance, task verification through machine vision, and how foundation models can be trained with just 40 hours of video data instead of requiring months of preparation.

Key takeaways:
• Edge AI focuses on computing as close as possible to data sources in OT environments
• Private 5G enables low-latency, high-bandwidth connectivity for real-time manufacturing data
• Physical AI models can be deployed in weeks rather than years with modern foundation models
• Multiple use cases are typically needed to justify private 5G network deployments
• Safety and preventative maintenance are often the first use cases that enable adoption
• Full-stack solutions include sensors, connectivity, edge compute, algorithms, and managed services
• Partnerships with Nvidia, Qualcomm, and ISVs enable comprehensive edge AI solutions

Chapters:
1:35 - Defining the edge in enterprise environments
2:59 - Full stack edge AI solutions
4:54 - Private 5G and edge AI synergy
6:23 - Use cases for edge AI and physical AI
7:41 - Real-world private 5G deployments
13:36 - AI partnerships and ecosystem approach
13:59 - Measuring value and ROI
22:23 - Automation and the future of edge AI