As AI continues to move from promise to practice across the telecom industry, a growing gap is emerging between ambition, reality, and responsibility. While next-generation networks are often framed as inherently “AI-native,” a recent IEEE survey suggests the impact of 6G on AI may be far less immediate than the hype implies, raising questions about timing, priorities, and where real value will be created. Speaking with RCR Wireless News about the result, IEEE Senior Member David Witkowski said that to truly understand how 6G might impact AI — and vice versa — the industry first needs to define what 6G will be.

At the same time, operators are already turning to AI in more practical ways — from tackling persistent challenges like customer churn to extracting insight from vast pools of network and subscriber data. But those opportunities come with tradeoffs. As AI becomes more deeply embedded in operations and monetization strategies, privacy concerns and regulatory scrutiny are intensifying, forcing telcos to carefully balance innovation with trust.

AI’s role in telecom is clearly evolving — and for now, at least, it’s doing so unevenly, incrementally, and with higher stakes than ever.