Mobile phone networks are rapidly embracing artificial intelligence (AI) to cope with the increasing demands of AI-powered smartphones. Companies like Apple, Samsung, and Google are incorporating AI into their operating systems to make phones easier and quicker to use. However, this increased use of AI means that phones will produce and use more data, putting strain on mobile phone networks. To manage this, telecoms firms are also introducing AI to dynamically manage radio frequencies, optimize energy usage, and monitor network performance. For example, Korea Telecom in South Korea can now localize and fix faults within a minute using AI-enabled network monitoring.

Telecoms firms are investing in 5G Standalone mobile networks to handle the explosion of data created by AI. These networks offer higher speeds and capacity, but some experts argue that even 5G may not be sufficient for the demands of the AI era. The industry is also looking to AI to improve customer service. The Global Telco AI Alliance aims to develop an AI chatbot tailored to the telecoms sector to handle basic customer queries, freeing up call center staff for more complex cases. Vodafone has partnered with Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service to improve its customer service and reduce complaints. AI is seen as a tool that can empower emerging markets and democratize its use beyond the wealthy.

While there are concerns about job losses due to automation, experts believe that AI can be empowering, especially for lower-income countries. AI has the potential to make networks greener and more efficient. Overall, AI is being applied in various areas of the telecoms industry, making every tool used in the sector much better.

Original news source: How mobile phone networks are embracing AI (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary

Instructions:
1. Divide the class into small groups.
2. Provide each group with a copy of the article.
3. Instruct the groups to read the article and discuss the main points.
4. Each group should then write a concise summary of the article, highlighting the key information.
5. After a designated amount of time, have each group share their summary with the class.

– Opinion Poll

Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs.
2. Provide each pair with a list of discussion questions related to the article.
3. Instruct the pairs to take turns asking and answering the questions, sharing their opinions and thoughts.
4. After the discussion, ask each pair to choose one question and share their partner’s opinion with the class, explaining the reasons behind it.

– Vocabulary Pictionary

Instructions:
1. Write a list of vocabulary words from the article on the board.
2. Divide the class into teams.
3. Instruct each team to choose one member as the “drawer” for the first round.
4. The teacher will call out a vocabulary word and the “drawer” must draw a visual representation of the word on the board.
5. The team members must guess the word within a designated time limit.
6. Repeat the process with different team members as the “drawer” for each round.

– Headline Creation

Instructions:
1. Divide the class into small groups.
2. Instruct each group to create a catchy newspaper headline related to the article.
3. Encourage creativity and originality.
4. After a designated amount of time, have each group share their headline with the class.
5. Discuss as a class which headline they find most interesting or effective and why.

– Think-Pair-Share

Instructions:
1. Ask the class to individually think about and write down their response to the following question: “How do you think AI will impact the future of mobile phone networks?”
2. Pair up the students and have them share their thoughts with their partner.
3. After a few minutes of discussion, ask each pair to share their partner’s response with the class, explaining their reasoning and discussing any similarities or differences in their opinions.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. How are mobile phone networks incorporating AI into their operating systems?
2. What are some ways that telecoms firms are using AI to manage the increased data produced by AI-powered smartphones?
3. How is Korea Telecom using AI-enabled network monitoring to improve network performance?
4. What are some benefits of investing in 5G Standalone mobile networks?
5. How is the telecoms industry using AI to improve customer service?
6. What is the goal of the Global Telco AI Alliance?
7. How is Vodafone partnering with Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service to improve customer service?
8. How can AI empower lower-income countries in the telecoms industry?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Mobile (1)______ networks are rapidly embracing (2)______ intelligence (AI) to cope with the increasing (3)______ of AI-powered smart(4)______. Companies like Apple, Samsung, and Google are incorporating AI into their operating systems to make phones easier and quicker to use. However, this increased use of AI means that phones will produce and use more data, putting strain on mobile phone networks. To manage this, telecoms firms are also introducing AI to dynamically (5)______ radio frequencies, optimize energy usage, and monitor network performance. For example, (6)______ Telecom in South Korea can now localize and fix (7)______ within a minute using AI-enabled network monitoring.

Telecoms firms are investing in 5G Standalone mobile networks to handle the explosion of data created by AI. These networks offer higher speeds and (8)______, but some experts argue that even 5G may not be sufficient for the demands of the AI era. The (9)______ is also looking to AI to improve customer service. The (10)______ Telco AI Alliance aims to develop an AI chatbot (11)______ to the telecoms sector to handle basic customer queries, freeing up call center staff for more complex cases. Vodafone has partnered with Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service to improve its customer service and (12)______ complaints. AI is seen as a tool that can (13)______ emerging markets and (14)______ its use beyond the wealthy.

While there are concerns about job losses due to automation, experts (15)______ that AI can be empowering, especially for lower-income countries. AI has the potential to make networks greener and more efficient. Overall, AI is being applied in various areas of the telecoms industry, (16)______ every tool used in the sector much better.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your opinion on the increasing use of AI in smartphones?
2. How do you think AI can improve customer service in the telecoms industry?
3. Do you think 5G networks will be sufficient to handle the demands of the AI era? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if AI chatbots replaced human call center staff in the telecoms sector?
5. Do you believe that AI can empower lower-income countries? Why or why not?
6. What are some potential benefits and drawbacks of using AI to manage radio frequencies in mobile phone networks?
7. How do you think AI can make networks greener and more efficient?
8. What are some other industries where AI could be applied to make tools better?
9. Do you like the idea of AI-enabled network monitoring? Why or why not?
10. How do you think AI can democratize its use beyond the wealthy in the telecoms industry?
11. What are some potential job opportunities that could arise from the increasing use of AI in the telecoms industry?
12. How do you think AI could impact the future of mobile phone networks?
13. Have you ever had a positive or negative experience with AI-powered customer service? Can you explain?
14. Do you think AI will eventually replace human workers in the telecoms industry? Why or why not?
15. How do you think the telecoms industry will continue to evolve with the increasing use of AI?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. embracing
2. incorporating
3. dynamically
4. optimize
5. localize
6. explosion
7. sufficient
8. tailored
9. empowering
10. democratize
11. automation
12. emerging
13. greener
14. efficient
15. sector

Meanings:
(A) More environmentally friendly
(B) Identify the specific location of something
(C) A distinct part or branch of a nation’s economy or society
(D) The use of machines and technology to perform tasks without human intervention
(E) Make the best or most effective use of a resource
(F) Made or adapted for a particular purpose or person
(G) Make something accessible to everyone
(H) Adequate or enough to meet the needs
(I) Beginning to develop or become successful
(J) A sudden and dramatic increase
(K) Giving someone the power or ability to do something
(L) Including or integrating as part of something
(M) Achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort
(N) Accepting or adopting something enthusiastically
(O) In a way that is constantly changing or active
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why are mobile phone networks embracing artificial intelligence (AI)?
(a) To reduce the use of data on phones
(b) To make phones more expensive
(c) To cope with the increasing demands of AI-powered smartphones
(d) To decrease the speed of mobile networks

2. Which companies are incorporating AI into their operating systems?
(a) Microsoft, Sony, and LG
(b) Nokia, Motorola, and Huawei
(c) Apple, Samsung, and Google
(d) HTC, BlackBerry, and OnePlus

3. How are telecoms firms using AI to manage mobile phone networks?
(a) Increasing the cost of mobile phone plans
(b) Decreasing the speed of mobile networks
(c) Reducing the number of mobile phone towers
(d) Dynamically managing radio frequencies, optimizing energy usage, and monitoring network performance

4. What are telecoms firms investing in to handle the explosion of data created by AI?
(a) 3G mobile networks
(b) 5G Standalone mobile networks
(c) 4G mobile networks
(d) Wi-Fi networks

5. What is the purpose of the Global Telco AI Alliance?
(a) To increase the cost of mobile phone plans
(b) To decrease the speed of mobile networks
(c) To reduce the use of data on phones
(d) To develop an AI chatbot tailored to the telecoms sector for customer service

6. Which company has partnered with Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service to improve customer service?
(a) Vodafone
(b) Verizon
(c) AT&T
(d) T-Mobile

7. How do experts believe AI can be empowering for lower-income countries?
(a) By increasing the cost of mobile phone plans
(b) By making networks greener and more efficient
(c) By decreasing the speed of mobile networks
(d) By reducing the number of mobile phone towers

8. What is the overall impact of AI in the telecoms industry?
(a) It is being applied in various areas and making every tool used in the sector much better
(b) It is increasing the cost of mobile phone plans
(c) It is decreasing the speed of mobile networks
(d) It is reducing the use of data on phones

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Telecoms firms are not investing in 5G Standalone mobile networks to handle the data explosion caused by AI.
2. The Global Telco AI Alliance aims to develop an AI chatbot for the telecoms sector to handle basic customer queries.
3. Korea Telecom cannot localize and fix faults within a minute using AI-enabled network monitoring.
4. Mobile phone networks are incorporating AI into their operating systems to improve user experience.
5. AI does not have the potential to make networks greener and more efficient in the telecoms industry.
6. This increased data usage will put strain on mobile phone networks.
7. Telecoms firms are not implementing AI to manage radio frequencies, optimize energy usage, and monitor network performance.
8. The increased use of AI on smartphones will result in the production and use of more data.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. How are mobile phone networks using AI to cope with the demands of AI-powered smartphones?
2. What are some of the ways that telecoms firms are using AI to manage mobile phone networks?
3. Why are telecoms firms investing in 5G Standalone mobile networks?
4. How is the telecoms industry using AI to improve customer service?
5. What are some potential benefits of using AI in the telecoms industry?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Mobile phone networks are incorporating AI into their operating systems to make phones easier and quicker to use.
2. Telecoms firms are using AI to dynamically manage radio frequencies, optimize energy usage, and monitor network performance.
3. Korea Telecom is using AI-enabled network monitoring to localize and fix faults within a minute.
4. Investing in 5G Standalone mobile networks offers higher speeds and capacity to handle the explosion of data created by AI.
5. The telecoms industry is using AI to develop AI chatbots for basic customer queries, freeing up call center staff for more complex cases.
6. The goal of the Global Telco AI Alliance is to develop an AI chatbot tailored to the telecoms sector.
7. Vodafone has partnered with Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service to improve customer service and reduce complaints.
8. AI can empower lower-income countries in the telecoms industry by making networks greener and more efficient, and democratizing access to AI tools beyond the wealthy.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) phone
(2) artificial
(3) demands
(4) phones
(5) manage
(6) Korea
(7) faults
(8) capacity
(9) industry
(10) Global
(11) tailored
(12) reduce
(13) empower
(14) democratize
(15) believe
(16) making
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. embracing
Answer: (N) Accepting or adopting something enthusiastically

2. incorporating
Answer: (L) Including or integrating as part of something

3. dynamically
Answer: (O) In a way that is constantly changing or active

4. optimize
Answer: (E) Make the best or most effective use of a resource

5. localize
Answer: (B) Identify the specific location of something

6. explosion
Answer: (J) A sudden and dramatic increase

7. sufficient
Answer: (H) Adequate or enough to meet the needs

8. tailored
Answer: (F) Made or adapted for a particular purpose or person

9. empowering
Answer: (K) Giving someone the power or ability to do something

10. democratize
Answer: (G) Make something accessible to everyone

11. automation
Answer: (D) The use of machines and technology to perform tasks without human intervention

12. emerging
Answer: (I) Beginning to develop or become successful

13. greener
Answer: (A) More environmentally friendly

14. efficient
Answer: (M) Achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort

15. sector
Answer: (C) A distinct part or branch of a nation’s economy or society
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why are mobile phone networks embracing artificial intelligence (AI)?
Answer: (c) To cope with the increasing demands of AI-powered smartphones

2. Which companies are incorporating AI into their operating systems?
Answer: (c) Apple, Samsung, and Google

3. How are telecoms firms using AI to manage mobile phone networks?
Answer: (d) Dynamically managing radio frequencies, optimizing energy usage, and monitoring network performance

4. What are telecoms firms investing in to handle the explosion of data created by AI?
Answer: (b) 5G Standalone mobile networks

5. What is the purpose of the Global Telco AI Alliance?
Answer: (d) To develop an AI chatbot tailored to the telecoms sector for customer service

6. Which company has partnered with Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service to improve customer service?
Answer: (a) Vodafone

7. How do experts believe AI can be empowering for lower-income countries?
Answer: (b) By making networks greener and more efficient

8. What is the overall impact of AI in the telecoms industry?
Answer: (a) It is being applied in various areas and making every tool used in the sector much better
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Telecoms firms are not investing in 5G Standalone mobile networks to handle the data explosion caused by AI. (Answer: False)
2. The Global Telco AI Alliance aims to develop an AI chatbot for the telecoms sector to handle basic customer queries. (Answer: True)
3. Korea Telecom cannot localize and fix faults within a minute using AI-enabled network monitoring. (Answer: False)
4. Mobile phone networks are incorporating AI into their operating systems to improve user experience. (Answer: True)
5. AI does not have the potential to make networks greener and more efficient in the telecoms industry. (Answer: False)
6. This increased data usage will put strain on mobile phone networks. (Answer: True)
7. Telecoms firms are not implementing AI to manage radio frequencies, optimize energy usage, and monitor network performance. (Answer: False)
8. The increased use of AI on smartphones will result in the production and use of more data. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧