As the global telecom industry begins to look beyond the current 5G horizon, industry experts are redefining what the next generation of connectivity will look like. In an exclusive interview with CGTN during the Global 6G Conference in China's Nanjing, Chih-Lin I, chief scientist of wireless tech at China Mobile, shared her insights into why 5G felt underwhelming for many and how 6G aims to be fundamentally different.

The paradox: 'Nice-to-have' vs. 'must-have'

While 5G was heralded as a revolutionary leap, many consumers feel the experience hasn't differed significantly from 4G. According to the chief scientist, while previous generations met the "must-have" demands, 5G entered an era in which basic needs were already fully met.

"I cannot think of a must-have service or application that were not already satisfied [by 4G]," she said.

Instead, 5G's primary focus was serving vertical industries rather than just common folks, aiming to build vertical platforms that could share resources across diverse industry needs.

6G: From a triangle to a hexagon

Technically, 5G was defined by a triangle of capabilities: massive Internet of Things, enhanced mobile broadband, and ultra-reliable low-latency communication.

"For 6G, instead of a triangle, it actually has a hexagon with another three points: sensing, AI ... (and)coverage extension," she explained.

AI: From add-on to DNA

According to the chief scientist, the most transformative aspect of 6G is its relationship with AI. In 4G and 5G, AI was often an add-on used to optimize network efficiency.

"For 6G, [AI] will be something that this new generation will be born with. It's from inside," she told CGTN.

She explained that this "AI-native" approach goes two ways: AI for 6G, using AI to optimize the network, and 6G for AI, designing the network to serve massive amounts of AI-related data.

She also cautioned that 6G must be designed to accommodate the "fast-paced, transformative changes of AI itself." Because AI technology evolves much faster than the 10-year telecom generation cycle, 6G must be "forward compatible" to adapt to unexpected breakthroughs, she said.

"I really think it's a very exciting time because we have so many questions," she concluded. "There is a lot of unknown, a lot of uncertainty, and simultaneously, a lot of potential. It's a very enjoyable journey to look forward to."