When we think of all the Industrial Internet has to offer, we tend to rely on sci-fi flicks, which have so nicely imagined a world of connected devices and data-driven predictions that will rule nearly every aspect of our lives, from retail interactions to criminal pursuits.  Minority Report is a go-to favorite, nicely telling the story of our future relationship with technology, whether we’re shopping at The GAP or passing the time in a virtual environment.  But what we don’t seem to realize is that the future is very much a part of the present day tech scene.  And there’s some serious initiatives working on implanting a Minority Report-like experience into our cultural and technological infrastructure.

General Electric is one of these major players, working with EMC, Accenture, AT&T and Cisco to connect its countless appliances and industrial machines.  This week GE held a summit in Chicago dedicated to sharing information about this connected world, enabling the corporate environment and educating the consumer audience in one fell swoop.  Our own John Furrier moderated the post-keynote panel at GE’s Mind+Machines summit on Wednesday, discussing the challenges the Industrial Internet has already solved, and what gaps remain.

On another spectrum of the Internet’s infrastructure, the Silk Road shutdown has left millions without a black market to exchange items, and has also taken a toll on virtualized currency maker Bitcoin.  Reiterating another pain point of the proliferation of Internet access is the unceasing number of hiccups President Obama’s administration is having with the web portals powering the Affordable Care Act site, exacerbated by the government shut down.

Certainly there are two sides to every tale, and the Industrialization of the Internet comes not without its share of setbacks, illegal trades and security concerns.  These are just some of the important topics we discuss this week at SiliconANGLE.  Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to receive your weekly recap of the top stories in tech, highlighting the very real ways in which they impact your lives and your livelihood.

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