Modern edge applications are demanding an intelligent architecture to deliver an optimized connected experience at scale. Traditional data and AI architectures fail to keep up with new edge applications that need an integrated, dynamic, adaptive, real-time, and intelligent data mesh. An integrated cloud-to-edge and edge-to-edge architecture is the goal of this emerging category that Forrester calls intelligent data edge architecture (IDEA). This report describes how data and AI are driving this novel class of capabilities — powered by memory with elastic, dynamic, adaptive, intelligent, and networked capabilities — to accelerate edge applications.