What Is Ambient Intelligence? (Definition, Examples, and Applications)

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Understand how ambient intelligence is embedded in human environments to collect and analyze data, and respond in a natural and engaging format.

[Featured image] A person is holding a smart device displaying four security cameras activated by ambient intelligence.

Key takeaways

Ambient intelligence (AmI) is the concept of embedding systems into human environments to monitor and learn through artificial intelligence (AI). Here are some important things to know:

  • Ambient intelligence is common and developing in a range of industries, including health care, business, and home entertainment. 

  • While ambient intelligence is becoming more mainstream, it is important to consider ethical, privacy, and security challenges.

  • You can start your career in ambient intelligence by earning a bachelor’s degree in math, machine learning, or statistics to gain hands-on experience or by taking a practical course.

Learn more about ambient intelligence, including who uses it, its pros and cons, and how to get started in the field. If you’re ready to build your ambient intelligence skills, consider enrolling in the AI Foundations for Everyone Specialization, delivered by IBM. In this four-course series, you’ll have the opportunity to develop a broad understanding of AI models with hands-on practical time with AI experiences and applications in as little as four weeks.

What is ambient intelligence?

Ambient intelligence, or AmI, is a way of capturing data unobtrusively, with systems embedded in everyday environments that react to humans and provide an appropriate response. The majority of these systems utilize AI, as ambient artificial intelligence is so ingrained in today’s culture that it may not be apparent. They run without human intervention, learning from human behavior. A common example of ambient intelligence is Google Assistant, Apple’s Siri, or Amazon’s Alexa. 

What is the difference between ambient intelligence and artificial intelligence?

Ambient intelligence is a subset of artificial intelligence that embeds AI systems into the environment to capture and respond to data. Ambient artificial intelligence can analyze a scenario by quietly observing and uses AI technology to respond and interact with humans as a result. 

How does ambient intelligence work?

Ambient intelligence is embedded into human environments using AI processors and machine learning devices to predict what humans want and provide a valid response. It uses sensors to access information about an environment, which it then analyzes. This allows AmI to react to the data it collects through a process of reasoning using recognition, decision-making, and user modeling, which activate intelligent algorithms. 

Who uses ambient intelligence?

Professionals use ambient invisible intelligence in a range of settings from health care to security to business support. You’ll also find ambient intelligence in your everyday environment and in the home. 

Ambient clinical intelligence

Clinical settings and health care providers use ambient intelligence to increase the productivity of staff by reducing workload, while allowing for a personalized experience. Doctors, nurses, and other clinical professionals experience a dilemma in that they must keep records and accurate transcripts of conversations and observations of patients, while also being personable and interactive in order to connect with the people they see. Ambient clinical intelligence (ACI) makes this more manageable by using systems that support this process through devices and unobtrusive technology that allow clinical professionals to record and transcribe patient interactions. 

Ambient intelligence for security

Ambient intelligence also supports physical security, with embedded systems monitoring situations and responding with automated security operations. Cameras and sensors can detect any threats, alerting companies to the need for a response involving human intervention. 

Ambient intelligence for business use 

Many businesses use ambient technology as a cost-effective way to collect data on current business processes to make improvements. Collecting and analyzing data can be a costly process, but AmI makes it possible to find details on productivity, product loss, and poor performance more easily. Businesses that utilize ambient intelligence in this way include:

  • Warehouses use item identity and sensors to locate items for stock checks and distribution.

  • Retailers of fresh items or medical products use temperature control to monitor product effectiveness.

  • Clothing retailers use ambient intelligence to communicate with washing machines to properly care for products.

Pros and cons of ambient intelligence

While still relatively new, ambient intelligence is already being used, with some transformational results, often without people really being aware of its existence. In the future of ambient intelligence, expect visual, audio, sensory, and pervasive devices to anticipate people’s movements, motivations, and reactions, with a range of capabilities to respond to them. While this has many advantages, it also flags some challenges.

Advantages of ambient intelligence

Pioneers of ambient intelligence highlight the benefits of using this technology, such as its seamless and unobtrusive nature, meaning that people often don’t even notice it. This allows for natural data collection that would be very difficult through other means and does not require human intervention, thereby improving customer experience and enhancing efficiency.

Potential challenges

As ambient intelligence evolves, real concerns around privacy are emerging. As AmI is embedded in environments, it brings up ethical issues about whether it is acceptable to track and monitor people without their knowledge. Security is also a potential concern due to the amount of data ambient intelligence collects and uses. A cyberattack or data breach could have huge consequences. To reduce these risks, developers, data custodians, and companies should be held accountable for any failures or violations of privacy. 

Read more: What Is Machine Learning for Cybersecurity?

Examples of ambient intelligence

Ambient intelligence is currently active in multiple industries and in everyday situations. Further examples include:

  • Sensors in food packaging to ensure optimal temperature control and to prevent spillage

  • Interaction with home assistants such as the Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa 

  • Documentation platforms that record clinical interactions with patients and produce clinical documentation

  • Smart classrooms that analyze student output to assign appropriate assignments

  • Cameras and sensors that detect patient movement to identify potential conditions, such as dementia 

  • Technology that monitors the movements of athletes to prevent injury

How to get started in ambient intelligence

Since ambient intelligence is a subset of artificial intelligence, developing your skills and experience in AI and machine learning is a great starting point to work in this field. You have several options:

  • Study for a degree: Consider earning a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in math, statistics, machine learning, computer science, information technology, or robotics engineering, covering aspects of artificial intelligence.

  • Build your experience: Pursue your own learning by exploring trends, reading, listening to podcasts, and experimenting with your own projects. Consider an internship or reaching out to employers in the field of AI to gain practical work experience with real-world scenarios and models.

Explore ambient intelligence in AI and machine learning

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