6G as a 'global brain': Expert explains AI's role in telecom's future

The transition from 5G to 6G is more than a simple leap in speed and response time, it's a fundamental shift in how humanity interacts with technology, said Rahim Tafazolli, Regius Professor of Electronic Engineering at the University of Surrey.

In an exclusive interview with CGTN Digital at the ongoing Global 6G Conference 2026 in east China's Nanjing, Tafazolli revealed that future telecommunication is about the creation of a seamless, intelligent connectivity that functions like a global nervous system.

A 'global brain'

Tafazolli likens the future of 6G to the human brain. In this analogy, telecommunications – including 5G, 6G, satellites, drones and Wi-Fi – act as the connective tissue between individual "neurons" or intelligent agents.

Additionally, 6G is expected to unify terrestrial and satellite networks into a single, cohesive fabric.

This integration aims to bridge the "digital divide," Tafazolli told CGTN. It will ensure that whether you are in a crowded city center or a remote village of 100 people, the experience of mobile broadband remains identical.

"We need people to live wherever they want to live, but at the same time benefit from connectivity," he said.

AI: the manager, not the master

A significant portion of the conversation focused on the symbiotic relationship between 6G and artificial intelligence (AI). While popular culture – and some sci-fi fans – might fear a "hive mind" scenario, Tafazolli offers a more grounded perspective.

AI is essential for 6G for two primary reasons. Firstly, AI will automatically manage resources and operations to reduce costs that would be prohibitive for humans to manage manually. Secondly, AI will enable highly intelligent applications in areas like telecare, education and multiplayer gaming.

"It is not right to think that AI will substitute or replace humans," Tafazolli said. While AI excels at logic and repetitive tasks, it lacks the living experience and emotional depth of human beings.

Overcoming the trust gap

The "black box" nature of current AI presents a challenge for critical infrastructure. Telecom networks require "five nines" reliability (99.999%), whereas current AI models can be unpredictable. To solve this, Tafazolli said, researchers are focusing on Explainable AI – ensuring that when a system makes a decision, humans can understand why.

Furthermore, as AI makes it easier to generate fake news and synthetic content, 6G research is looking at embedding authentication directly into the network. This could include advanced watermarking or hidden encryption keys at the source to verify the authenticity of not just voice and video but also plain text.

The final frontier: economics

Interestingly, the greatest hurdle for 6G isn't the technology itself. Tafazolli argued that nearly any science fiction concept - from advanced VR to complex robotics - is technically achievable today.

"The real bottleneck is the cost," he explained. The success of 6G depends on whether the industry can create innovative applications that are economically viable for both carriers and consumers.