Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things (AIoT): The Next Frontier in Smart Engineering Solutions

Abstract

The convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), commonly referred to as Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT), has emerged as a transformative paradigm in modern engineering and industrial applications. AIoT integrates the intelligent decision-making capabilities of AI with the interconnected sensing and communication features of IoT, enabling systems that are not only connected but also context-aware, adaptive, and autonomous. This fusion has led to the creation of innovative solutions across diverse domains, including smart cities, industrial automation, energy management, healthcare, and intelligent transportation systems. Through continuous data collection, analysis, and optimization, AIoT enhances operational efficiency, reduces human intervention, and fosters predictive maintenance and sustainable resource utilization. However, despite its significant promise, AIoT also introduces challenges related to interoperability, security, scalability, and ethical data governance. Addressing these issues requires multidisciplinary collaboration among engineers, data scientists, and policymakers to ensure reliable and responsible deployment. This paper explores the evolution, architecture, and key applications of AIoT in engineering contexts while providing a comprehensive review of the latest advancements and research trends. Furthermore, the study presents a methodological framework to analyze AIoT-based smart systems and evaluates their performance across multiple engineering sectors. The results highlight how AIoT technologies are reshaping the foundations of engineering design and decision-making. The paper concludes with insights into future research directions, emphasizing sustainable, explainable, and human-centered AIoT systems as the next frontier for smart engineering innovation.