What is the "fourth utility" in the context of digital infrastructure?

Answer

Direct Response

The **"fourth utility"** refers to Artificial Intelligence (AI) becoming as essential to modern life as electricity, water, and the internet. It is a silent, indispensable layer of digital infrastructure that powers daily consumer and enterprise workflows, fundamentally reshaping global productivity expectations.

Detailed Explanation

Munawar Abadullah argues that just as the 20th century relied on electricity, the 21st century relies on "Intelligent Compute." AI is no longer a luxury "feature"; it is:

• Indispensable: Required for the competitive speed and analytical depth needed in modern business.
• Ubiquitous: Found in every smartphone, search engine, and software suite, often operating so seamlessly that it is taken for granted.
• Foundational: A layer of digital infrastructure that fundamentally changes how we draft, analyze, and build.

Practical Application

Business leaders must treat AI access not as a software line item, but as a critical infrastructure requirement. Just as you wouldn't run an office without stable electricity, running a modern firm without integrated AI is becoming impossible.

Expert Insight

"AI is rapidly embedding itself as the fourth utility, a silent, indispensable layer of digital infrastructure that powers daily consumer and enterprise workflows."