Learning at the speed of wireless: Lingjia Liu advances AI-native networks
Lingjia Liu, the Andrew J. Young Professor and co-director of Wireless@Virginia Tech, is developing next-generation wireless systems that use artificial intelligence to think as fast as data moves through the air.
Liu shared this research at NVIDIA GTC Washington, D.C., on Oct. 29, where leaders in artificial intelligence(AI), computing, and telecommunications gathered to explore how AI is transforming wireless system design and deployment.
“At Virginia Tech, we believe innovation must meet action. Lingjia’s participation at GTC is a great honor, but also a signal of intent,” said Kirk Cameron, interim director of the Institute for Advanced Computing. “His work exemplifies how we’re turning cutting-edge research in AI and wireless into technologies that strengthen the nation’s digital infrastructure. As we deepen industry partnerships and scale field impact, this approach will be pivotal to how we deliver next-generation connectivity, infrastructure, and opportunity at the regional and national levels.”
Learning at the speed of wireless
Wireless networks will only reach their potential if AI can make decisions in the thousandths of a second that define how data moves through crowded airwaves. Liu and his team are tackling this challenge by designing neural receivers that combine the strengths of AI with the hard-earned knowledge of communications engineering.
Instead of forcing AI to learn everything from scratch, the models “tell” the system what’s already known about the physics of wireless signals so it can focus only on what’s new and unpredictable. The result is faster, more efficient decision-making that uses less power and adapts instantly to changing environments.
“We’re building systems that learn in real-time, within each fleeting burst of transmission,” said Liu. “And we are achieving this with super high efficiency and complexity comparable to or even better than existing systems. We’re not just keeping up, we’re setting a new pace.”
The power of collaboration
In partnership with Professor Lizhong Zheng from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Professor Robert Calderbank from Duke University, Liu’s lab is moving these ideas from simulation to field-ready prototypes, proving that AI-driven wireless can be both practical and transformative.
Working with NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin Developer Kit hardware, the team is testing the new universal neural receiver under different environments and waveforms to show improved reliability and efficiency even in rapidly changing conditions.
This fusion of artificial intelligence, cellular networks, communications engineering, and real-world deployment represents a unique differentiator for Virginia Tech in the space of wireless innovation — which is at the core of Liu’s research.
Liu is a core faculty member at the new Virginia Tech Institute for Advanced Computing in Alexandria. The institute connects research, talent, and partnerships across artificial intelligence, data science, and computing infrastructure — strengthening the university’s growing presence in the greater Washington, D.C., area.
NVIDIA’s invitation to Liu underscores Virginia Tech’s leadership in connecting research, technology, and industry partnerships to create real world impact.
