Steve Arendt

In the quest for smarter, more resilient networks, a new AI-driven approach is redefining how devices understand and troubleshoot connectivity issues — all without ever leaving the home. In November 2024, a CableLabs proof-of-concept called NetLLM introduced the idea of using a Large Language Model (LLM) to (1) interpret human language descriptions of network issues and (2) interact with network systems to fix those issues, all while letting users communicate with their routers conversationally.

Wi-Fi can be frustrating! It sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t. Identifying the problems can be difficult, and people often just turn Wi-Fi off on their device and instead use their cellular data connection. In doing so, they miss out on the potentially much higher throughput, and hence the faster Internet connection, that a Wi-Fi connection can provide. If only Wi-Fi acted more like the cellular network! What Is CableLabs Mobile Wi-Fi?