REVIEW article
Front. Commun. Netw.
Sec. Wireless Communications
Volume 6 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/frcmn.2025.1655410
A Comprehensive Review of AI-Native 6G: Integrating Semantic Communications, Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces, and Edge Intelligence for Next-Generation Connectivity
Provisionally accepted
- Kampala International University Western Campus, Kampala, Uganda
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This review explores the evolving vision of sixth-generation (6G) networks as a paradigm shift from conventional data-centric communication to intelligence-native architectures, where meaning, context, and adaptive decision-making are central. The convergence of semantic communication, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), and edge intelligence enables context-aware, low-latency, and resilient wireless systems. Semantic encoding prioritizes taskrelevant information to reduce communication redundancy; RIS dynamically controls the wireless propagation environment to enhance energy-efficiency and coverage; and edge intelligence supports decentralized, AI-driven inference closer to end users. Together, these technologies reframe traditional quality of service (QoS) metrics, moving beyond throughput and latency toward intent-driven and context-aware service delivery. This paper presents a structured analysis of their technical foundations, integration strategies, and mutual synergies.It also highlights open challenges such as joint semantic-environment modelling, cross-layer orchestration, and secure, trustworthy deployment of distributed AI at the network edge. Looking ahead, the review outlines promising directions including quantum-aware semantic channels, bio-inspired cognition for network adaptation, intelligent metasurfaces with embedded AI, and integrated space-air-ground-sea (SAGS) architectures. These advances suggest that 6G is not merely a generational upgrade but a foundational framework for future intelligent infrastructures capable of reasoning, learning, and responding autonomously in real time.
Keywords: Semantic Communications, Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), Edge intelligence, AI-Native 6G Networks, Context-Aware Connectivity, and Future Network Architectures AI-Native 6G Architecture: Synergizing Semantic Communications
Received: 27 Jun 2025; Accepted: 13 Aug 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Ogenyi, UGWU and Ugwu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Fabian Chukwudi Ogenyi, Kampala International University Western Campus, Kampala, Uganda
CHINYERE NNEOMA UGWU, Kampala International University Western Campus, Kampala, Uganda
Okechukwu Paul-Chima Ugwu, Kampala International University Western Campus, Kampala, Uganda
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.