VSL Book Talk | Mr Vinay Solanki | Confluence of AI & IoT: Marriage Made in Heaven

Introduction

Introduction

Hello, everyone. On behalf of Vikram Sarabhai Library and the India Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, I welcome you all to our book talk program. For today's session, we have Mr. Vinay Solanki, PGPX alumnus, 2014-15 batch, and author of the book "Confluence of AI and IoT: Marriage Made in Heaven." Mr. Vinay Solanki is a TEDx speaker and an angel investor with 20 years of extensive experience in business development, strategic planning, partnership, and technology management across diverse domains such as digital transformation, AI, IoT, Wi-Fi, fintech, and trending technologies.

Mr. Solanki is the founder of the world's third-largest IoT community, IoT NCR. He is an exclusive senior IoT global think tank member, and his profound insights have earned him global recognition as a top 20 IoT leader by thinkers360 and CBT USA. Currently, he is the business head at Nash Industries, a leading manufacturing service provider in India. He holds an MS in Computer Science from the State University of New York and an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad. Now, I request Mr. Vinay Solanki to take over this session.

Introduction by Mr. Vinay Solanki

Hello, am I audible? Thank you so much. I'm glad to have sold one book before even starting the session. I’ll briefly talk about why I wrote this book and then go through a specific agenda for today. The event was already introduced, so I'll skip further details about myself.

For those of you viewing on YouTube live, we have an author giveaway for five books. We'll run a simple quiz after the session, and it’s very basic, just to encourage participation. Additionally, I have a few more books available at a 40% discount today. Of course, the book is also available online on Amazon, Flipkart, and Notion Press.

The Journey Behind the Book

I've spent 10 years building or selling digital transformation solutions, working on both the buy-side and the sell-side. After returning to India for the PGPX program in 2014, I picked up some concepts in smart building technology and published a paper. In 2016-17, I felt strongly that AI and IoT had significant potential to scale.

In 2019, I began working on this book. Unfortunately, my father passed away in 2021, and I experienced another personal loss in 2023. However, I was committed to completing the book and managed to launch it in January 2024. Now, it has sold close to 180 copies, and the feedback has been promising.

Why AI and IoT?

During my time in the US, I was captivated by an IoT product that helped monitor who visits your door. This was a video doorbell technology that connected over Wi-Fi and allowed remote monitoring. From that experience, I realized the potential of IoT. Essentially, IoT can be explained in simple terms: devices (sensors, cameras, machines, etc.) that are connected to the internet can sense, process, and act on data, similar to human senses coupled with brain processing.

Market Potential and Reality Check

AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) is expected to have an economic impact of approximately $ 4 trillion. The market size of AIoT in 2023 is estimated to be $ 35 billion, projected to grow at a compounded rate of 32% annually, reaching $ 250 billion by 2030.

However, one needs to understand the journey from hype to reality. In the past, a majority of companies believed in IoT’s potential, but only a small percentage of proof of concepts (POCs) scaled. Today, I believe this ratio is improving, potentially reaching 60-40.

Application Areas

The book’s case studies are divided into various significant sectors including smart agriculture, smart cities, manufacturing, computer vision, and more. Each sector demonstrates the diverse applications of AI and IoT.

Fundamentals and Technical Deep-Dive

The book is divided into four sections. The first section offers a layman’s overview of IoT and AI fundamentals. The second section dives into the architecture and building blocks, requiring some technical background. The third section covers data security and privacy. The last section includes various case studies illuminating the practical applications of AIoT.

Smart Agriculture and Smart Cities

There are insightful case studies on smart agriculture, including precision farming and using drones for crop monitoring. For smart cities, examples include waste management in Bhopal and various initiatives in Barcelona.

Manufacturing and Computer Vision

In manufacturing, the book highlights Black and Decker’s Excellence Factory and computer vision inspections. Furthermore, the book also includes examples of appliance monitoring, enhancing energy efficiency.

Blockchain and Cybersecurity

The book concludes with case studies on blockchain applications in supply chain and energy meters, and cybersecurity issues.

Encouragement for Readers

For those aspiring to make a career in this field, I recommend reading extensively on AI and IoT. My book aims to serve as an educational tool to bring awareness and understanding.

Discounts and Availability

The book is currently available on Amazon, Flipkart, Notion Press, and Kindle. Discounts and special deals are available for those interested.

Questions and Quiz

Afterward, a question and answer session ends with a fun quiz to win free copies of the book, ending the event on a high note.

Keywords

• AIoT
• Digital Transformation
• IoT Ecosystem
• Case Studies
• Smart Agriculture
• Smart Cities
• Manufacturing
• Computer Vision
• Blockchain
• Cybersecurity

FAQ

Q: What is AIoT?
A: AIoT stands for Artificial Intelligence of Things, combining the data-driven capabilities of AI with IoT devices' connectivity to create smarter systems.

Q: Why did Mr. Vinay Solanki write this book?
A: Mr. Solanki wrote the book to educate people about the potential and applications of AI and IoT, based on his extensive experience in the field.

Q: What sectors does the book’s case studies cover?
A: The book covers sectors such as smart agriculture, smart cities, manufacturing, computer vision, blockchain, and cybersecurity.

Q: Is there a discount available for purchasing the book?
A: Yes, there are various discounts available on different platforms, including a special discount during the live session.

Q: Who can benefit from reading this book?
A: Students, junior professionals, technologists, and anyone interested in understanding the digital ecosystem of AI and IoT can benefit from reading this book.