{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4414600124","doi":"https://doi.org/10.3389/frcmn.2025.1655410","title":"A comprehensive review of AI-native 6G: integrating semantic communications, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, and edge intelligence for next-generation connectivity","display_name":"A comprehensive review of AI-native 6G: integrating semantic communications, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, and edge intelligence for next-generation connectivity","publication_year":2025,"publication_date":"2025-09-29","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W4414600124","doi":"https://doi.org/10.3389/frcmn.2025.1655410"},"language":"en","primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.3389/frcmn.2025.1655410","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/frcmn.2025.1655410","pdf_url":"https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/communications-and-networks/articles/10.3389/frcmn.2025.1655410/pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4210213607","display_name":"Frontiers in Communications and Networks","issn_l":"2673-530X","issn":["2673-530X"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":true,"is_core":true,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310320527","host_organization_name":"Frontiers Media","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310320527"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Frontiers Media"],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"Frontiers in Communications and Networks","raw_type":"journal-article"},"type":"article","indexed_in":["crossref","doaj"],"open_access":{"is_oa":true,"oa_status":"gold","oa_url":"https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/communications-and-networks/articles/10.3389/frcmn.2025.1655410/pdf","any_repository_has_fulltext":true},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5099518883","display_name":"Fabian Chukwudi Ogenyi","orcid":null},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I2752562790","display_name":"Kampala International University","ror":"https://ror.org/017g82c94","country_code":"UG","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I2752562790"]}],"countries":["UG"],"is_corresponding":true,"raw_author_name":"Fabian Chukwudi Ogenyi","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Electrical, Telecommunication and Computer Engineering, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Electrical, Telecommunication and Computer Engineering, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I2752562790"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5094031491","display_name":"Chinyere Nneoma Ugwu","orcid":null},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I2752562790","display_name":"Kampala International University","ror":"https://ror.org/017g82c94","country_code":"UG","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I2752562790"]}],"countries":["UG"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Chinyere Nneoma Ugwu","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Electrical, Telecommunication and Computer Engineering, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Electrical, Telecommunication and Computer Engineering, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I2752562790"]}]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5048323616","display_name":"Okechukwu Paul-Chima Ugwu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3563-3521"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I2752562790","display_name":"Kampala International University","ror":"https://ror.org/017g82c94","country_code":"UG","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I2752562790"]}],"countries":["UG"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Okechukwu Paul-Chima Ugwu","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Publication and Extension, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Publication and Extension, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I2752562790"]}]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":1,"institutions_distinct_count":3,"corresponding_author_ids":["https://openalex.org/A5099518883"],"corresponding_institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I2752562790"],"apc_list":{"value":1900,"currency":"USD","value_usd":1900},"apc_paid":{"value":1900,"currency":"USD","value_usd":1900},"fwci":7.5171,"has_fulltext":true,"cited_by_count":13,"citation_normalized_percentile":{"value":0.97523808,"is_in_top_1_percent":false,"is_in_top_10_percent":true},"cited_by_percentile_year":{"min":97,"max":100},"biblio":{"volume":"6","issue":null,"first_page":null,"last_page":null},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11458","display_name":"Advanced Wireless Communication Technologies","score":0.9921000003814697,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2208","display_name":"Electrical and Electronic Engineering"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/22","display_name":"Engineering"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11458","display_name":"Advanced Wireless Communication Technologies","score":0.9921000003814697,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2208","display_name":"Electrical and Electronic Engineering"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/22","display_name":"Engineering"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10502","display_name":"Advanced Memory and Neural Computing","score":0.9796000123023987,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2208","display_name":"Electrical and Electronic Engineering"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/22","display_name":"Engineering"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10273","display_name":"IoT and Edge/Fog Computing","score":0.928600013256073,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1705","display_name":"Computer Networks and Communications"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/edge-computing","display_name":"Edge computing","score":0.4560000002384186},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/software-deployment","display_name":"Software deployment","score":0.4498000144958496},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/inference","display_name":"Inference","score":0.415800005197525},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/ambient-intelligence","display_name":"Ambient intelligence","score":0.4036000072956085},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/wireless-network","display_name":"Wireless network","score":0.37220001220703125},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/wireless","display_name":"Wireless","score":0.35989999771118164},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/quality-of-service","display_name":"Quality of service","score":0.3458000123500824},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/enhanced-data-rates-for-gsm-evolution","display_name":"Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution","score":0.34369999170303345},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/wireless-sensor-network","display_name":"Wireless sensor network","score":0.3416999876499176}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C41008148","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21198","display_name":"Computer science","level":0,"score":0.7717999815940857},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2778456923","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5337692","display_name":"Edge computing","level":3,"score":0.4560000002384186},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C105339364","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2297740","display_name":"Software deployment","level":2,"score":0.4498000144958496},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2776214188","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q408386","display_name":"Inference","level":2,"score":0.415800005197525},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C201638289","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q457396","display_name":"Ambient intelligence","level":2,"score":0.4036000072956085},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C108037233","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11375","display_name":"Wireless network","level":3,"score":0.37220001220703125},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C555944384","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q249","display_name":"Wireless","level":2,"score":0.35989999771118164},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C5119721","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q220501","display_name":"Quality of service","level":2,"score":0.3458000123500824},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C162307627","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q204833","display_name":"Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution","level":2,"score":0.34369999170303345},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C24590314","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q336038","display_name":"Wireless sensor network","level":2,"score":0.3416999876499176},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C107457646","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207434","display_name":"Human\u2013computer interaction","level":1,"score":0.3366999924182892},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C120314980","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q180634","display_name":"Distributed computing","level":1,"score":0.33500000834465027},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C82876162","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17096504","display_name":"Latency (audio)","level":2,"score":0.33079999685287476},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2778464652","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q309849","display_name":"Open research","level":2,"score":0.32919999957084656},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2780202397","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2294986","display_name":"Smart objects","level":3,"score":0.3075000047683716},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C46637626","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6693015","display_name":"Low latency (capital markets)","level":2,"score":0.304500013589859},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C85407183","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1045785","display_name":"Semantic network","level":2,"score":0.30309998989105225},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C154945302","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11660","display_name":"Artificial intelligence","level":1,"score":0.2973000109195709},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C157170001","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4781507","display_name":"Applications of artificial intelligence","level":2,"score":0.29490000009536743},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C118524514","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q173212","display_name":"Computer architecture","level":1,"score":0.28870001435279846},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2780378061","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25351891","display_name":"Service (business)","level":2,"score":0.2838999927043915},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C193415008","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q639681","display_name":"Network architecture","level":2,"score":0.28299999237060547},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C6881194","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7449091","display_name":"Semantic technology","level":4,"score":0.2815999984741211},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C138236772","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25098575","display_name":"Edge device","level":3,"score":0.27959999442100525},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C44210515","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16968978","display_name":"Bespoke","level":2,"score":0.26579999923706055},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C184337299","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1437428","display_name":"Semantics (computer science)","level":2,"score":0.2644999921321869},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C162763945","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4825467","display_name":"Conceptual architecture","level":3,"score":0.2630999982357025},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C123657996","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12271","display_name":"Architecture","level":2,"score":0.2590000033378601},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C31258907","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1301371","display_name":"Computer network","level":1,"score":0.2565999925136566},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C51675839","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1665681","display_name":"Intelligent Network","level":2,"score":0.25220000743865967},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C43540301","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q689971","display_name":"Paradigm shift","level":2,"score":0.2517000138759613}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":2,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.3389/frcmn.2025.1655410","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/frcmn.2025.1655410","pdf_url":"https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/communications-and-networks/articles/10.3389/frcmn.2025.1655410/pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4210213607","display_name":"Frontiers in Communications and Networks","issn_l":"2673-530X","issn":["2673-530X"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":true,"is_core":true,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310320527","host_organization_name":"Frontiers Media","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310320527"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Frontiers Media"],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"Frontiers in Communications and Networks","raw_type":"journal-article"},{"id":"pmh:oai:doaj.org/article:9f151394dbe14925b4c402c397ce8371","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doaj.org/article/9f151394dbe14925b4c402c397ce8371","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306401280","display_name":"DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"host_organization":null,"host_organization_name":null,"host_organization_lineage":[],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":"cc-by-sa","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by-sa","version":"submittedVersion","is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":"Frontiers in Communications and Networks, Vol 6 (2025)","raw_type":"article"}],"best_oa_location":{"id":"doi:10.3389/frcmn.2025.1655410","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/frcmn.2025.1655410","pdf_url":"https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/communications-and-networks/articles/10.3389/frcmn.2025.1655410/pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4210213607","display_name":"Frontiers in Communications and Networks","issn_l":"2673-530X","issn":["2673-530X"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":true,"is_core":true,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310320527","host_organization_name":"Frontiers Media","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310320527"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Frontiers Media"],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"Frontiers in Communications and Networks","raw_type":"journal-article"},"sustainable_development_goals":[],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"grobid_xml":true,"pdf":true},"content_urls":{"pdf":"https://content.openalex.org/works/W4414600124.pdf","grobid_xml":"https://content.openalex.org/works/W4414600124.grobid-xml"},"referenced_works_count":124,"referenced_works":["https://openalex.org/W2990831233","https://openalex.org/W3083307665","https://openalex.org/W3102018666","https://openalex.org/W3124995269","https://openalex.org/W3162583458","https://openalex.org/W3198682756","https://openalex.org/W4200479789","https://openalex.org/W4205617282","https://openalex.org/W4205708288","https://openalex.org/W4210427903","https://openalex.org/W4210908382","https://openalex.org/W4213345062","https://openalex.org/W4221160263","https://openalex.org/W4226180163","https://openalex.org/W4226210911","https://openalex.org/W4281399824","https://openalex.org/W4282965792","https://openalex.org/W4283451731","https://openalex.org/W4285257641","https://openalex.org/W4287888488","https://openalex.org/W4290713755","https://openalex.org/W4292972664","https://openalex.org/W4293218370","https://openalex.org/W4306175938","https://openalex.org/W4312536677","https://openalex.org/W4312610058","https://openalex.org/W4312766166","https://openalex.org/W4312785352","https://openalex.org/W4312913871","https://openalex.org/W4312935863","https://openalex.org/W4312940001","https://openalex.org/W4317568651","https://openalex.org/W4317794926","https://openalex.org/W4317876178","https://openalex.org/W4319878802","https://openalex.org/W4319983517","https://openalex.org/W4366966441","https://openalex.org/W4378473300","https://openalex.org/W4379113536","https://openalex.org/W4380361809","https://openalex.org/W4380442628","https://openalex.org/W4381327765","https://openalex.org/W4382618630","https://openalex.org/W4383752077","https://openalex.org/W4384158407","https://openalex.org/W4384158409","https://openalex.org/W4385199336","https://openalex.org/W4385569494","https://openalex.org/W4386436235","https://openalex.org/W4386736634","https://openalex.org/W4387936727","https://openalex.org/W4388201449","https://openalex.org/W4388494745","https://openalex.org/W4389080298","https://openalex.org/W4389104915","https://openalex.org/W4389451266","https://openalex.org/W4389573687","https://openalex.org/W4389995734","https://openalex.org/W4390075405","https://openalex.org/W4390669776","https://openalex.org/W4391062482","https://openalex.org/W4391614477","https://openalex.org/W4392309420","https://openalex.org/W4392866906","https://openalex.org/W4393151844","https://openalex.org/W4393185338","https://openalex.org/W4394828356","https://openalex.org/W4395027885","https://openalex.org/W4396780191","https://openalex.org/W4399026300","https://openalex.org/W4399284420","https://openalex.org/W4399403138","https://openalex.org/W4400188199","https://openalex.org/W4400526331","https://openalex.org/W4401070271","https://openalex.org/W4401536718","https://openalex.org/W4401607588","https://openalex.org/W4401754272","https://openalex.org/W4401875371","https://openalex.org/W4402350363","https://openalex.org/W4402369044","https://openalex.org/W4402395877","https://openalex.org/W4402509550","https://openalex.org/W4403094360","https://openalex.org/W4403365392","https://openalex.org/W4403544720","https://openalex.org/W4403628634","https://openalex.org/W4404278989","https://openalex.org/W4404726955","https://openalex.org/W4404788040","https://openalex.org/W4405351316","https://openalex.org/W4405743898","https://openalex.org/W4405784845","https://openalex.org/W4405812550","https://openalex.org/W4405907142","https://openalex.org/W4405953172","https://openalex.org/W4406098777","https://openalex.org/W4406696912","https://openalex.org/W4406930910","https://openalex.org/W4406947469","https://openalex.org/W4407240389","https://openalex.org/W4408363154","https://openalex.org/W4408505030","https://openalex.org/W4408520711","https://openalex.org/W4408527359","https://openalex.org/W4408697418","https://openalex.org/W4408780017","https://openalex.org/W4409316940","https://openalex.org/W4409640635","https://openalex.org/W4409848811","https://openalex.org/W4409996967","https://openalex.org/W4410223167","https://openalex.org/W4410226540","https://openalex.org/W4410393099","https://openalex.org/W4410428528","https://openalex.org/W4410949641","https://openalex.org/W4410950278","https://openalex.org/W4410985905","https://openalex.org/W4412939434","https://openalex.org/W4413822066","https://openalex.org/W4415164150","https://openalex.org/W6947983146","https://openalex.org/W6949854195","https://openalex.org/W6967027479"],"related_works":[],"abstract_inverted_index":{"This":[0,101],"review":[1,142],"explores":[2],"the":[3,60,136,141],"evolving":[4],"vision":[5],"of":[6,31,86,107,132,185],"sixth-generation":[7],"(6G)":[8],"networks":[9],"as":[10,122],"a":[11,104,173,177],"paradigm":[12],"shift":[13],"from":[14],"conventional":[15],"data-centric":[16],"communication":[17,55],"to":[18,53,64,77],"intelligence-native":[19],"architectures,":[20],"where":[21],"meaning,":[22],"context,":[23],"and":[24,38,44,67,69,93,97,113,128,160,188],"adaptive":[25],"decision-making":[26],"are":[27],"central.":[28],"The":[29],"convergence":[30],"semantic":[32,148],"communication,":[33],"reconfigurable":[34],"intelligent":[35,155,182],"surfaces":[36],"(RIS),":[37],"edge":[39,70],"intelligence":[40,71],"enables":[41],"context-aware,":[42],"low-latency,":[43],"resilient":[45],"wireless":[46,61],"systems.":[47],"Semantic":[48],"encoding":[49],"prioritizes":[50],"task-relevant":[51],"information":[52],"reduce":[54],"redundancy;":[56],"RIS":[57],"dynamically":[58],"controls":[59],"propagation":[62],"environment":[63],"enhance":[65],"energy-efficiency":[66],"coverage;":[68],"supports":[72],"decentralized,":[73],"AI-driven":[74],"inference":[75],"closer":[76],"end":[78],"users.":[79],"Together,":[80],"these":[81],"technologies":[82],"reframe":[83],"traditional":[84],"quality":[85],"service":[87,99],"(QoS)":[88],"metrics,":[89],"moving":[90],"beyond":[91],"throughput":[92],"latency":[94],"toward":[95],"intent-driven":[96],"context-aware":[98],"delivery.":[100],"paper":[102],"presents":[103],"structured":[105],"analysis":[106],"their":[108],"technical":[109],"foundations,":[110],"integration":[111],"strategies,":[112],"mutual":[114],"synergies.":[115],"It":[116],"also":[117],"highlights":[118],"open":[119],"challenges":[120],"such":[121],"joint":[123],"semantic-environment":[124],"modelling,":[125],"cross-layer":[126],"orchestration,":[127],"secure,":[129],"trustworthy":[130],"deployment":[131],"distributed":[133],"AI":[134],"at":[135],"network":[137,153],"edge.":[138],"Looking":[139],"ahead,":[140],"outlines":[143],"promising":[144],"directions":[145],"including":[146],"quantum-aware":[147],"channels,":[149],"bio-inspired":[150],"cognition":[151],"for":[152,180],"adaptation,":[154],"metasurfaces":[156],"with":[157],"embedded":[158],"AI,":[159],"integrated":[161],"space-air-ground-sea":[162],"(SAGS)":[163],"architectures.":[164],"These":[165],"advances":[166],"suggest":[167],"that":[168],"6G":[169],"is":[170],"not":[171],"merely":[172],"generational":[174],"upgrade":[175],"but":[176],"foundational":[178],"framework":[179],"future":[181],"infrastructures":[183],"capable":[184],"reasoning,":[186],"learning,":[187],"responding":[189],"autonomously":[190],"in":[191],"real":[192],"time.":[193]},"counts_by_year":[{"year":2026,"cited_by_count":9},{"year":2025,"cited_by_count":4}],"updated_date":"2026-05-23T08:51:43.019350","created_date":"2025-10-10T00:00:00"}