Phases of the Internet. A map to where the Web goes next (spectrum.ieee.org)

Ericsson CTO Mallik Tatipamula maps the Internet’s evolution into seven additive phases—from the original packet network, mobile and IoT eras to an imminent “Internet of AI Agents,” followed by an “Internet of Senses,” a Ubiquitous Internet and finally a Quantum Internet. The key claim: connectivity is no longer just plumbing for data but the substrate of intelligence. Phase 4 distinguishes digital agents (coding copilots, workflow orchestrators, trading algorithms) from physical agents (autonomous vehicles, drones, robots) and highlights ISAC (Integrated Sensing and Communications) as critical for real‑time perception and coordination. Phase 5 expands networked signals to tactile, olfactory and brain interfaces plus programmable meta‑surfaces that let the network itself perceive environments. Phase 6 demands integrated terrestrial and non‑terrestrial fabrics for seamless, global coverage; Phase 7 overlays quantum links—entanglement, teleportation and distributed quantum processors—on classical fibers to enable ultra‑secure comms, quantum sensing and new classes of distributed quantum‑enhanced AI. For the AI/ML community this framework signals technical priorities and opportunities: networked multi‑agent learning and coordination, embodied and multimodal models that ingest haptics/olfaction/BCI data, edge and ISAC‑enabled sensing pipelines, latency‑ and reliability-driven architectural changes, and hybrid classical–quantum training and inference. Together these phases forecast a shift from isolated models to globally networked, sensor‑rich intelligence—reshaping data modalities, security models, and compute topologies for future AI systems.