AI/ML in 3GPP 5G Advanced -- Services and Architecture

TL;DR

This paper reviews AI/ML technological advancements in 3GPP Release 19 for 5G advanced systems, focusing on both AI-driven network optimization and support for AI applications within the 5G infrastructure.

Contribution

It details the new AI/ML features and enhancements introduced in Release 19, highlighting their roles in improving 5G network performance and enabling AI applications.

Findings

AI enhances resource optimization in 5G networks

Support for AI applications like image recognition has been integrated

Advancements facilitate better network management and AI service deployment

Abstract

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the standards body for mobile networks, is in the final phase of Release 19 standardization and is beginning Release 20. Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning (AI/ML) has brought about a paradigm shift in technology and it is being adopted across industries and verticals. 3GPP has been integrating AI/ML into the 5G advanced system since Release 18. This paper focuses on the AI/ML related technological advancements and features introduced in Release 19 within the Service and System Aspects (SA) Technical specifications group of 3GPP. The advancements relate to two paradigms: (i) enhancements that AI/ML brought to the 5G advanced system (AI for network), e.g. resource optimization, and (ii) enhancements that were made to the 5G system to support AI/ML applications (Network for AI), e.g. image recognition.