Wilhelmi Roca, FrancescSzott, SzymonKosek-Szott, KatarzynaBellalta, Boris2025-10-292025-10-292025Wilhelmi F, Szott S, Kosek-Szott K, Bellalta B. Machine learning and Wi-Fi: unveiling the path toward AI/ML-Native IEEE 802.11 networks. IEEE Commun Mag. 2025 Jul;63(7):114-20. DOI: 10.1109/MCOM.001.24002920163-6804http://hdl.handle.net/10230/71688Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are nowadays mature technologies considered essential for driving the evolution of future communications systems. Simultaneously, Wi-Fi technology has constantly evolved over the past three decades and incorporated new features generation after generation, thus gaining in complexity. As such, researchers have observed that AI/ML functionalities may be required to address the upcoming Wi-Fi challenges that will be otherwise difficult to solve with traditional approaches. This article discusses the role of AI/ML in current and future Wi-Fi networks, and depicts the ways forward. A roadmap toward AI/ML-native Wi-Fi, key challenges, standardization efforts, and major enablers are also discussed. An exemplary use case is provided to showcase the potential of AI/ ML in Wi-Fi at different adoption stages.application/pdfengThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. For more information, see https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.info:eu-repo/semantics/article2025-10-29http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/MCOM.001.2400292Wireless fidelityArtificial intelligenceIEEE 802.11 standardComputational modeling3GPPCostsStandardsData modelsProtocolsComputer architectureMachine learninginfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess