When AI Meets Terahertz: A Survey on the Symbiosis of Artificial Intelligence and Terahertz Networks

TL;DR

This survey explores the mutual benefits and integration of AI and Terahertz networks, highlighting recent advancements, challenges, and future research directions in this emerging field.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of AI-driven solutions in THz communications and discusses the symbiotic relationship enabling advancements in both areas.

Findings

AI enhances THz channel modeling and optimization.

THz networks provide infrastructure for AI training and sensing.

The co-evolution of AI and THz networks opens new research avenues.

Abstract

The Terahertz (THz) band (0.1-10 THz) has emerged as a critical frontier for future communication systems, offering ultra-wide bandwidths that enable Terabits-per-second (Tbps) wireless links and high-precision sensing and imaging. However, practical deployment of THz systems is hindered by unique challenges, including intricate channel characteristics, high-dimensional and large-scale optimization problems, and highly dynamic network environments. Artificial Intelligence (AI) serves as a transformative enabler to address these challenges, providing robust capabilities for precise modeling, advanced signal processing, complex optimization, real-time decision-making, and prediction, among others. Reciprocally, the unprecedented bandwidth and high-resolution sensing capabilities of THz networks provide a promising physical infrastructure for AI, facilitating training, inference, and data collection. This survey presents a systematic and comprehensive overview of AI-driven solutions across the entire THz communication network and the symbiosis of AI and THz networks. To begin with, a foundational overview of AI technologies tailored for wireless communications is presented. Subsequently, AI-based innovations are investigated, spanning from hardware design, channel modeling, physical layer optimization, up to higher-layer network protocols and advanced THz services, including mobile edge computing and sensing-empowered applications. In parallel, the capacity of THz networks to serve AI is examined, underscoring a profound paradigm shift towards a mutual symbiosis where AI and THz co-evolve and empower each other. Finally, by synthesizing these state-of-the-art advancements and identifying open research directions, this survey highlights the potential of AI in copilot with development of THz communication systems.