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We present a conceptual framework integrating reconfigurable infrastructure, adaptive middleware, and intelligent network functions, augmented by multi-agent collaboration to support distributed decision-making and scalable automation. The paper outlines how these components can align with emerging industrial frameworks, ensuring seamless integration within smart manufacturing processes. Rather than offering empirical results, we articulate a forward-looking architecture and discuss its implications for real-time responsiveness, efficiency, and robustness in future networked control systems. Ethical, standardization, and deployment considerations are examined, culminating in a proposed technology stack to guide ongoing research and implementation. By synthesizing current trends in AI and telecom convergence, this work aims to inform the development of intent-aware, resilient, and adaptive communication systems for 6G and beyond.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/frcmn.2025.1606493","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,8]],"date-time":"2025-08-08T14:22:19Z","timestamp":1754662939000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["From connectivity to autonomy: the dawn of self-evolving communication systems"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"6","author":[{"given":"Zeinab","family":"Nezami","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Syed Danial Ali","family":"Shah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Maryam","family":"Hafeez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Karim","family":"Djemame","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Syed Ali Raza","family":"Zaidi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"B8","volume-title":"Ai-ran: telecom infrastructure for the age of ai","year":"2025"},{"key":"B9","volume-title":"Aws iot greengrass","year":"2025"},{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.1109\/mic.2021.3062487","article-title":"Ric: a ran intelligent controller platform for ai-enabled cellular networks","volume":"25","author":"Balasubramanian","year":"2021","journal-title":"IEEE Internet Comput."},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"84","DOI":"10.1109\/mcom.001.2300364","article-title":"Large generative ai models for telecom: the next big thing?","volume":"62","author":"Bariah","year":"2024","journal-title":"IEEE Commun. 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