AI assisted PHY in future wireless systems: Recent developments and challenges

Nowadays, the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) provides a fresh perspective in designing future wireless communication systems. Innumerable attempts exploiting AI methods have been carried out, which results in the state-of-the-art performance in many different areas of wireless communications. In this article, we present the most recent and insightful developments that demonstrate the potentials of AI techniques in different physical layer (PHY) components and applications including channel characterization, channel coding, intelligent signal identification, channel estimation, new PHY for random access in massive machine-type communication (mMTC), massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) power control and PHY resource management. Open challenges and potential future directions are identified and discussed along this research line.