Innovation & Responsible Technology

Investing in innovation and partnering with industry leaders to bring cutting-edge technologies to our network.

Click through to learn about our 2024 impact in action.

As of 2024, approximately 5.5 billion people (68% of the global population) are online. From keeping in touch with loved ones to growing a successful business, connectivity has become a vital facet of everyday life. As more people get connected, technology will need to keep pace with innovations that advance speed, capacity and performance.

At AT&T, innovation is key to continuously improving our network in line with emerging technologies and growing customer demand for network capacity.

Enhancing Network Management

We use our open-source software to more efficiently and cost-effectively control, manage and deploy network services. Our core network is entirely software-defined. This allows us to rapidly scale capacity to respond to traffic volumes, quickly enable capacity enhancements and promptly address security concerns.

Even as we innovate to advance speed, coverage and reliability, we are doing so with sustainability in mind. Learn more about how we are optimizing network energy efficiency in our Energy Management issue brief.

To learn about our network management policies, see our Network Practices website.

Investing in Next-Gen Tech

Our network investments lay the foundation for new technologies — including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), video analytics, virtual reality, augmented reality, edge computing, 5G, hybrid private cellular networks and the Internet of Things (IoT) — to flourish. Our approach to technology innovation includes:

• Research and Development: AT&T scientists and engineers explore areas like internet protocol networking, advanced network design and architecture, cybersecurity, network operations support systems, satellite technology, video platform development and data analytics. Most development activities are aimed at creating new services and inventing tools and systems to manage secure, reliable networks.
• Collaboration: The AT&T Innovation Studio features cutting-edge wireless and wireline technologies and brings together cross-company organizations to explore new enterprise and consumer use cases while accelerating paths to market for product offerings and strategic initiatives. Our scientists and engineers work with customers and industry peers to ideate, test and validate new applications.

Leading in AI Adoption

For nearly 70 years, we have led our industry in the AI space, and we continue to drive that lead by exploring new and better ways to leverage AI in our operations, network and customer experiences. To support us in doing so effectively, innovatively and responsibly, we maintain an internal AI policy, as well as a set of AI Guiding Principles, that apply to all employees.

One of the early use cases for AI at AT&T was in the form of customer service chats and interactive voice response technology, and we continue to leverage that technology to get customers to the information they need faster. We also maintain Ask AT&T, an internal generative AI (GenAI) platform employees can use to summarize phone calls and documents, write code and explore AT&T databases for insights that help them better serve our customers.

We are also leveraging AI internally to enhance our operations and network. AT&T’s Chief Data Office (CDO) pioneers expert innovation and execution of traditional and GenAI to support operating our internal platforms and business efficiently. We leverage AI to assist with our data inventory, metadata and data classification work, supporting ongoing understanding of data sets and the governance structures that apply to each. We also use GenAI to help migrate legacy architecture to modern technology, eliminating legacy data center equipment and enabling reusable, interoperable and multipurpose technology for solving business problems at scale.

We use AI-powered tools to understand and optimize energy use across facilities such as data centers and cell site aggregation hubs; we also conduct analyses to understand the energy use impacts of AI, both in terms of cloud load and required technology to support increased adoption. To strengthen our network design, planning, management and optimization efforts, we harness AI/ML support in:

• Forecasting traffic and capacity planning.
• Building and validating new network equipment.
• Optimally configuring network environments to enhance customer experiences.
• Learning how to quickly and effectively auto-heal the network.

Learn how we encourage suppliers to uphold responsible AI practices in the AT&T Supplier Artificial Intelligence Requirements. Learn more about how Ask AT&T supports employees in our Human Capital Management issue brief.

Evolving Technologies

We are proud to maintain one of the strongest patent portfolios in the industry, with over 10,000 issued patents to date. We create advanced technologies that drive future innovations in AI and automation, software-defined networks, customer experience, media analytics and open-source platforms. To do so, we need to stay ahead of the curve, proactively researching and exploring emerging solutions.

We support our scientists, developers and engineers with resources to realize the full potential of their knowledge and expertise. This includes creating space for them to research and address evolving technology challenges and opportunities through:

• AT&T Labs
• AT&T CDO
• AT&T Innovation Studio
• AT&T Intellectual Property Group

Harnessing the Power of Data

In today’s digital era, data is pivotal for driving innovation, enhancing operational efficiency and maintaining a competitive edge. AT&T recognizes data as a strategic asset and is committed to unlocking its full potential while upholding the highest standards of customer trust and regulatory compliance. Our comprehensive data strategy focuses on four key pillars:

1. Data Management: Aligning with a “single version of truth,” implementing target architecture and leveraging data products through an operational support framework to balance risk reduction with business value.
2. Data Protection: Ensuring data security across all platforms by adhering to AT&T Security Policies and Standards, employing robust encryption practices and preventing data exfiltration.
3. Operational Governance and Assurance: Strengthening data governance to ensure compliance, enhance accountability and effectively manage third-party risks.
4. Data Culture and Literacy: Fostering a data-driven culture by improving data literacy across the organization, focusing on data democratization and reuse and empowering employees to make data-informed decisions.

By reinforcing these areas, AT&T aims to safeguard sensitive information, streamline operations, reduce risks and drive value across the enterprise.

Innovation & Responsible Technology Governance

• Board of Directors: The Board of Directors receives regular reports on innovation and responsible technology matters from executive leadership, including AI updates.
• Chief Technology Officer (CTO): Responsible for the technology platforms supporting all AT&T business units. The CTO also has management responsibility for new product development, network transformation, cybersecurity and the CDO.
• Technology & Network Services Team: Oversees the network technology direction for AT&T, which includes network architecture, standards, planning, development, testing and certification of infrastructure, and device technologies.
• CDO: Oversees the strategic vision of data and analytics — including traditional and GenAI, data and AI governance across the firm — to make customers and employees more efficient and innovative while ensuring responsible use of this information. In this role, the CDO also coordinates with other important stakeholders who provide important advice and oversight in AI governance, including the Legal department, Chief Compliance Office, Chief Privacy Office, Chief Security Office, Human Resources and the Wireline Transformation Supply Chain Organization. Through the CDO, we promote data-driven decision-making at all company levels by providing business managers with self-serve access to “single version of truth” datasets.

Continuously Evolving AI Capabilities

Having launched Ask AT&T in 2023, we continue to scale its use and, today, it generates over 2 billion tokens — equivalent to 2 billion generated words — every day. We also maintain Ask AT&T, an internal GenAI platform employees can use to summarize and analyze their documents, write code and explore AT&T databases for insights that help them better serve our customers.

As a result of our ongoing work to strengthen the tool, the AskData component ranked #1 globally on the GenAI BIRD leaderboard at the end of 2024. This highlighted its leading-edge ability to take plain English questions and turn them into computer code to find the right data insights.

A Streamlined Approach to Mitigating Risk

When developing AI tools, we are committed to doing so responsibly, prioritizing security and customer and employee privacy. To enhance our approach to mitigating related risks, throughout 2024, we worked diligently on efforts to streamline and standardize the review process.

Previously, potential new AI applications had to undergo at least 20 different review stages — including governance reviews, privacy impact assessments and cloud reviews. Today, we have created a single document and process that clearly details actions teams should take to ensure the AI tools they develop are safe, responsible and keep personal data protected, reducing the number of approval steps they have to undergo. By doing so, we free up more time for innovation, accelerating the development of impactful AI-enabled solutions without compromising on safety or privacy.

5G and Beyond

During 2024, we launched AT&T Turbo, becoming the first carrier to give customers the choice to purchase enhanced data connectivity that enables real-time responsiveness and improved stability. Designed to support high-performance mobile applications like gaming, video broadcasting and live video conferencing, the 5G-powered service gives customers greater control over their experiences.

The 5G space continues to offer opportunities for innovation, and we remain dedicated to exploring new avenues for 5G development. At the same time, we are looking ahead, stepping up as a leader in “Beyond 5G” exploration as a founding member of the Next G Alliance.

Driving Inclusivity Through 5G

We use connectivity to unlock possibilities for everyone. This includes harnessing the power of 5G to level the playing field for athletes. We have developed the AT&T 5G Helmet, a solution that uses AT&T 5G and an augmented reality lens to connect players and coaches, removing communication barriers for deaf and hard of hearing players. It was created in partnership with Gallaudet University, a school for deaf and hard of hearing students, and was approved for their 2024 football season by the NCAA.

Opening Up Our Network

To move our network forward, we are opening it up, exploring open radio access network (Open RAN) opportunities that allow vendor diversity, innovation and network programmability.

In collaboration with Ericsson, we announced plans to lead the U.S. in commercial-scale Open RAN deployment. Over five years, we will spend approximately $14 billion to help build a robust ecosystem of network infrastructure providers and suppliers, with an aim that 70% of our wireless network traffic will flow across open-capable platforms by late 2026.

To further support our work in this area, in February 2024, we were pleased to step up as a leader in a new industry consortium — the Acceleration of Compatibility and Commercialization for Open RAN Deployments Consortium (ACCoRD). ACCoRD has been awarded $42 million by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to advance adoption of interoperable infrastructure in wireless networks. The funding will go toward helping ACCoRD identify new methods of assessing innovations and technologies not covered by current best practices.

Greater Innovation with Network APIs

We are expanding open network APIs (application programming interfaces) that make AT&T network infrastructure accessible to developers at all levels, helping them build advanced connectivity directly into applications. To support this, in 2024, we created the AT&T Developer Hub, where developers can access our catalog of APIs and integrated solutions, as well as use cases that highlight the impact these resources can have.

We also created the AT&T Network API Accelerator Program to give select developers early access to pre-release network APIs that could support next-generation network capabilities. As network advances continue, developers will be able to create new, network-enabled experiences in spaces such as healthcare, transportation, security and entertainment.

Innovating Cutting-Edge Products

Throughout 2024, we launched various solutions that deliver more efficient, more responsible and more purposeful connectivity to customers:

• AT&T Turbo: Gives customers the choice to enhance their data connectivity to support high-performance mobile applications, such as gaming, social video broadcasting and live video conferencing, while on the go and during busy network times.
• Internet Backup: Keeps customers with AT&T Fiber and an eligible wireless plan online with a reliable cellular connection to their gateway if fiber becomes unavailable.
• GrandPad: GrandPad alleviates loneliness and social isolation among seniors by providing an IoT cellular network that enables video calls, emails, messages and multiparty virtual care conferences without the need for Wi-Fi connectivity.
• AT&T amiGO Jr. Tab™: We developed a new tablet that offers parents full remote control of their child’s experience through the accompanying free AT&T amiGO™ app. By doing so, we empower parents to create a safe environment for their children to explore and stay connected.