The Superposition Guy's Podcast

Preeti Chalsani, Chief Quantum Officer at Intersect Illinois, and Harley Johnson, CEO of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, are interviewed by Yuval Boger. Preeti and Harley discuss the rapid creation and ambitious goals of the IQMP, a state-backed initiative to support the scale-up of quantum computing and microelectronics. They talk about the park's public-private structure, a $500M infrastructure investment by the state, early tenants like PsiQuantum and and Diraq, and its emphasis on workforce development and cross-sector collaboration. They also explore Illinois' unique advantages as well as the challenges of infrastructure timelines, community impact, managing expectations in a fast-moving field, and much more.

Michele Dallari, co-founder and CEO, and Marco Polini, co-founder, of Planckian, are interviewed by Yuval Boger. Michele and Marco talk about their company's novel superconducting chip architecture, which uses global control and always-on ZZ interactions to drastically reduce wiring complexity and improve scalability. They discuss the advantages of controlling many qubits with just two or three classical lines, their early-stage experimental progress, and the software adaptations required to compile algorithms for their architecture. The conversation also touches on Italy's growing quantum ecosystem, Planckian's collaborative approach to chip manufacturing, their excitement about recent advances in pulse engineering to compensate for fabrication imperfections—and much more.

Romana Schirhagl, co-founder, and Deepak Veeregowda, CEO of QT Sense, are interviewed by Yuval Boger. QT Sense develops quantum sensing technology using NV center sensors in nanodiamonds for biomedical applications. Romana explains how their technology measures magnetic noise from free radicals inside cells, indicating cellular stress, similar to a small-scale MRI. Deepak discusses the company's product, Quantum Nova, which is available for research and diagnostic purposes, particularly in cancer and infectious disease detection. QT Sense describes their technology as having subcellular resolution and nanomolar sensitivity, sees a key advantage in applying NV sensors in living systems where the sensors move and rotate, and aim to impact millions of patients by 2030.

Andrea Tabacchini of Quantum Brilliance joins Yuval to discuss room-temperature quantum computing. Quantum Brilliance develops compact, diamond-based quantum accelerators for edge applications like robotics and satellites.Andrea explains their nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center technology, enabling stable qubits without cryogenic cooling. With innovations in deterministic defect placement and scalable nanoelectronics, they aim to launch a commercial 60–100 qubit quantum computer by 2029.He envisions small, low-power quantum processors working alongside classical systems and sees growing investment driving practical quantum applications within five years.

Michelle Simmons, CEO of Silicon Quantum Computing, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Michelle's company uses phosphorus atoms in silicon-28 to create high-fidelity, low-noise qubits with exceptional coherence. She highlights their multi-nucleus spin registers for all-to-all connectivity and native multi-qubit operations, achieving what she describes as industry-leading fidelities. We discuss their three products—quantum machine learning, analog simulation, and fault-tolerant quantum computing—and their progress. We also discuss the expected date of their error-corrected system, the key to accelerating their roadmap, and much more.

Maud Vinet, CEO and co-founder of Quobly, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. They discuss the company's mission to build large-scale quantum computers based on silicon qubits. Maud explains how silicon offers unique advantages in scalability, leveraging decades of semiconductor expertise, and why the biggest challenge lies in qubit control rather than fabrication yield. Maud shares insights on her transition from semiconductor R&D to quantum computing, the partnerships Quobly has formed with fabs like STMicroelectronics, the anticipated timeline for achieving significant qubit counts, and much more.

David Rivas, Chief Technology Officer at Rigetti Computing, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. They discuss Rigetti's approach to building superconducting quantum computers. David highlights the company's full-stack capabilities, including its captive quantum fab and proprietary control systems, emphasizing the advantages of vertical integration for optimizing performance. He explains Rigetti's chiplet-based approach to scaling quantum processors, their strategy for achieving large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computing. They also cover the evolution of quantum computing architectures, Rigetti's move to 3D signaling, and the role of logical qubits in scaling quantum processors, the importance of continued hands-on experimentation, the challenges of being a public company, and much more.

Daniel Porat and Prof. Emanuele Dalla-Torre of Quantymize are interviewed by Yuval Boger. They discuss their work in quantum optimization and hybrid quantum-classical algorithms. Daniel describes how the company focuses on real-world optimization problems in industries like energy, e-commerce, and scheduling, leveraging quantum computing to enhance efficiency. Emanuele describes the company's core algorithm, called Efficient Correlated Optimization, which significantly reduces qubit requirements for solving complex combinatorial problems. They also cover the evolving quantum landscape in Israel, the potential for commercial quantum advantage today, the balance between publishing research and maintaining competitive business strategies, and much more.

Matthijs Rijlaarsdam, co-founder and CEO of QuantWare, joins Yuval Boger to discuss how his company is enabling the scaling of quantum processors through its VIO technology, a 3D chip architecture that addresses key bottlenecks in scaling qubits. Matthijs explains the three major challenges—fan-out, integration of components, and yield—and how VIO solves these to facilitate quantum chips with millions of qubits. He also shares insights into Quantware's business model, which spans fully packaged chips, foundry services, and packaging services, drawing parallels to the semiconductor industry. They explore the impact of heat, signal routing, and error correction, the strategic importance of marketing and storytelling in the quantum industry, and more.

Konstantinos Karagiannis, who leads quantum computing services at Protiviti, joins Yuval Boger to discuss the dual aspects of quantum computing: its promise in transformative use cases and its threats in post-quantum cryptography. Konstantinos explains why organizations need to act now to secure their data against future quantum threats, emphasizing the importance of cryptographic agility and hybrid solutions. He highlights how different industries, particularly financial services and government, are leading the way in adopting post-quantum standards. They also explore the challenges of quantum key distribution, the evolving vendor landscape, and how organizations can prioritize their post-quantum journeys.

Shahin Khan, co-founder of OrionX, joins Yuval Boger to explore the intersection of quantum computing and high-performance computing (HPC). Shahin discusses why HPC is a natural early adopter of quantum technologies, the role of QPUs alongside GPUs and CPUs, and how quantum computing aligns with global megatrends. They delve into scaling challenges, the potential for quantum to revolutionize tensor-based problems, and the broader implications of quantum on energy efficiency and scientific discovery. Shahin also reflects on the industry's progress, the importance of rational exuberance, and the need to set realistic expectations while maintaining excitement about quantum's transformative potential.

Frédéric Rivain, CTO of Dashlane is interviewed by Yuval Boger. They discuss the intersection of quantum computing and cybersecurity. Frédéric explains how Dashlane is preparing for the post-quantum era by testing cryptographic algorithms, implementing crypto-agility, and anticipating the “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later” threat. They explore the role of NIST in standardization, the challenges of migrating to post-quantum cryptography, and the evolving nature of credential security. Last, they cover AI-powered phishing attacks, government preparedness for Q-Day, and much more.

Simon Borger, a physicist turned patent attorney, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. They discuss the evolving intellectual property landscape in quantum technologies. Simon shares insights on global patent trends, the role of startups versus large companies, and the challenges of filing patents for quantum innovations. They explore how to balance academic publishing with IP protection, the rising influence of European filings, and the surprising nuances of Chinese patent strategies, and much more.

Tobias Lindstrom, Head of Science for the Department of Quantum Technologies at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in the UK, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. They discuss the critical role of national measurement institutes in the quantum ecosystem. Tobias explains how NPL bridges the gap between academia and industry, delves into the complexities of quantum benchmarking and standardization, and explores advancements in quantum communications, sensing, and computing. They also touch on the evolving quantum supply chain, the role of neutrality in measurement services, and what the future holds for quantum technologies.

Zoran Krunic, Senior Manager of Data Science at Amgen Research and Development, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Zoran and Yuval talk about leveraging quantum machine learning for clinical trial data, the challenges of implementing new technologies in regulated environments, combining quantum computing with generative AI, strategies for scaling quantum efforts in biopharma, and much more.

Toby Cubitt, the person with the best name in quantum, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Toby is also co-founder, CTO, and Chief Science Officer of Phasecraft, a quantum algorithms company developing highly efficient algorithms tailored for near-term quantum hardware. We discuss Phasecraft's approach to bridging the gap between quantum demonstrations and useful applications, the role of hybrid quantum-classical algorithms in accelerating materials science, the importance of optimizing for specific hardware platforms, and the critical need for higher gate fidelities in quantum computing. Toby also shares his thoughts on when quantum computing might deliver commercially useful results, his views on AI's synergy with quantum, and much more.

Yuval Boger interviews Jannes Stubbeman, co-founder and CEO of Aqora, a platform aimed at creating a “Kaggle for Quantum” by providing an operating system for both in-person and online hackathons in the quantum computing space. Jannes and Yuval discuss the origins of Aqora, how it supports hardware vendors in organizing impactful hackathons, the intricacies of benchmarking quantum use cases, the challenges and logistics of hosting competitions, and much more.

Yianni Gamvros and Iordanis Kerenidis, co-founders of Quantum Signals, a new startup focusing on B2B software for financial services, are interviewed by Yuval Boger. Yianni and Iordanis discuss their strategy of building classical AI pipelines to deliver immediate value to customers while planning to integrate quantum enhancements as the technology matures. They explore the challenges of optimizing large financial transactions using predictive signals powered by transformers and quantum-inspired methods, contrasting their approach with traditional trading algorithms. They discuss their initial successes, a quantum hackathon they are organizing, and much more.

Yuval Boger, Chief Commercial Officer at QuEra, is interviewed by guest host Jack Krupanski. Yuval shares his journey into quantum, discusses the recent Google investment, QuEra's roadmap, the importance of government support, and the potential for a “quantum winter.” Jack and Yuval also discuss the evolution of quantum computing as part of the broader HPC ecosystem, expectations for production-scale deployment, challenges like talent acquisition, and much more.

Yuval Boger interviews whurley, co-founder and CEO of StrangeWorks. They discuss whurley's journey from founding Honest Dollar to starting Strangeworks, the lessons learned in bridging science and business communication in quantum, and the transition from quantum-only to advanced computing. Whurley also shares his views on the symbiotic relationship between AI and quantum computing, the importance of partnerships in building the industry, and the company's hiring plans. He reflects on the current state of collaboration in the quantum industry, his optimism for future breakthroughs, and much more.

Tim Spiller, director of the Quantum Communications Hub in the UK, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Tim describes the Hub's work on quantum key distribution (QKD) and quantum networking. He highlights advancements in short- and long-range quantum communications, including a CubeSat-based QKD system. Tim elaborates on the transition from research to commercialization within the UK National Quantum Technologies Program, touching on intellectual property transfer, industry partnerships, and ethical considerations in secure communications. He also shares insights on global quantum initiatives in China, Europe, and the US, future quantum networking goals in the UK, and much more.

Shmuel Bachinsky, CEO and co-founder of Quantum Transistors, a second-generation quantum computing company aiming to build the “8086” of quantum computing, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Shmuel discusses the company's focus on using diamond-based solid-state spin qubits combined with silicon photonics and CMOS control planes, aiming to build a scalable quantum processor. He contrasts this approach with the challenges of silicon-based qubits, emphasizing higher operating temperatures and the potential for better two-qubit gate fidelity. Shmuel shares insights on scalability, funding, and future growth, and much more

Rob Schoelkopf, co-founder and chief scientist at Quantum Circuits Inc., and Ray Smets, CEO, are interviewed by Yuval Boger. Rob shares insights on Quantum Circuits' unique dual-rail qubit approach, which focuses on reducing error rates through error detection and correction at the hardware level. Ray emphasizes the company's shift from scientific research to commercial implementation, highlighting its cost-efficiency and full-stack quantum computing solution. They discuss the scaling potential of superconducting qubits, the importance of error correction, the next steps for Quantum Circuits' technology, and much more

Renaud Béchade, founder of Anzaetek, a quantum software company based in Korea, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Renaud shares insights about the company's work in quantum machine learning (QML) for hospitals, focusing on managing limited medical data, federated learning, and potential quantum solutions for personalized medicine. They also discuss hardware-software co-design, the quantum ecosystem in Korea, and the future of quantum applications beyond healthcare, including in finance and optimization. Renaud reflects on key learnings from recent conferences, potential breakthroughs in quantum error correction, and much more

Charlee Stefanski and Constantin Gonciulea, co-authors of Building Quantum Software, are interviewed by Yuval Boger. Charlee, a software engineer, and Constantin, an expert in math and quantum computing, both from Wells Fargo, discuss their new book aimed at developers and readers with a basic background in math and programming, emphasizing a deeper understanding of quantum algorithms like Grover's algorithm and the quantum Fourier transform. They also cover the importance of hybrid quantum-classical algorithms and the development of their own high-performance quantum simulator. The conversation touches on the current state of quantum software tools, the challenges of scaling quantum algorithms, and the potential business impact of quantum computing, particularly in optimization and finance, and much more.

Mariia Mykhailova, Principal Quantum Software Engineer at Microsoft Quantum, and author of "Quantum Programming in Depth", is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Mariia describes the book which addresses the practical skills needed to implement real quantum algorithms. She emphasizes the importance of having a solid foundation in quantum programming and highlights her approach to teaching, which focuses on bridging the gap from basic concepts to advanced quantum programming techniques. She also shares insights into the current state of quantum programming tools, the challenges of teaching quantum computing, the potential future applications of quantum computers, and much more. The book is available on manning.com. Use code SPG45 to get 45% off all Manning products.

Hrant Gharibyan, co-founder and CEO of BlueQubit, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Hrant describes the company's focus on developing quantum algorithms and software solutions for complex classical and quantum problems, such as material simulation and optimization. Hrant discusses key projects, including a DARPA collaboration involving neutral atom quantum computers and work with Honda Research Institute on quantum algorithms for image classification. He highlights the importance of hardware-agnostic approaches and the potential for achieving quantum advantage in the near future, addresses the challenges of different quantum hardware modalities, the evolving landscape of quantum computing tools and techniques, and much more.

Shengtao and Jonathan from QuEra are interviewed by Yuval Boger. They discuss their roles at QuEra, focusing on quantum algorithm development and the applications of neutral atom quantum computers. Shengtao shares insights on the evolving landscape of quantum computing, including recent breakthroughs in error correction and fault tolerance, and the potential of quantum computers to solve quantum problems, particularly in chemistry and materials science. Jonathan talks about the importance of hybrid quantum-classical systems and the need for creative algorithm development to leverage quantum devices. They both reflect on the future of quantum computing, the potential of neutral atoms, and what it will take for quantum technology to achieve practical utility. The conversation also explores the skills needed for careers in quantum computing, the challenges of scaling quantum applications, and much more.

After interviewing over 100 humans, it's time to try interviewing a machine. "Chris" (ChatGPT) is interviewed by Yuval Boger on The Superposition Guy's Podcast. They discuss the integration of quantum computing into high-performance computing (HPC) environments, the unique needs of quantum users, and the future of quantum technology in solving business problems. Chris highlights the importance of hybrid classical-quantum models, user education, and the evolving quantum ecosystem. The conversation also covers the challenges of scaling quantum resources and the potential impact of quantum computing on fields like optimization, cryptography, and machine learning.

Richard Murray, CEO and co-founder of Orca Computing, discusses the company's focus on building photonic quantum computers using existing telecom components and optical fibers. Orca differentiates itself by leveraging its origins from a quantum networking research group at the University of Oxford, emphasizing practical near-term applications in machine learning and optimization. Richard highlights the unique challenges of photonic quantum computing, such as manipulating single photons for qubit gates, and the company's efforts in pioneering multiplexing techniques to scale their systems.

Chris Bishop, a non-linear multimodal careerist and former musician, discusses his diverse career journey from music to technology on Yuval Boger's podcast. He highlights his experiences as a studio musician, web producer, and IBM employee, transitioning into quantum technologies where he now engages as a freelance consultant, writer, and podcast host. Chris shares insights from hosting and emceeing quantum tech events, emphasizing the significance of adapting to emerging tech fields and the importance of interdisciplinary skills in navigating future careers.

Dr. Bob Sutor, a 40-year industry veteran with a rich background in IBM and other tech companies, discusses his current role as an analyst and advisor at the Futurum Group. Bob reflects on his diverse career from mathematical sciences to quantum computing, emphasizing his shift from a vendor to a broader industry-wide perspective. He also mentions his recent book update, "Dancing with Qubits," aimed at demystifying quantum computing for non-physicists, and shares insights on the current state and future directions of quantum computing.

Natasha Sachdeva and Michael Biercuk from Q-CTRL are interviewed by Yuval Boger. They discussed their groundbreaking research on combinatorial optimization problems, achieving significant results with Q-CTRL's error tools and modified algorithms. Michael highlighted their dual focus on quantum computing and sensing, emphasizing the practical applications of their technology. They also addressed the practical implications for businesses, insights into their future directions and reflections on the broader quantum landscape, and much more.

Kathrin Spendier, the technical prize director of XPRIZE Quantum Applications, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Kathrin discussed her role in driving the quantum applications competition. The competition aims to discover quantum algorithms that demonstrate quantum advantage for real-world problems, with a $5 million prize purse divided over three years. She explained the application process, the types of problems targeted, and the importance of collaboration among participants, and much more

Lon Hintze, Clayton Crocker, John Dorighi, and Philip Krantz from Keysight, are interviewed by Yuval Boger. They discuss their comprehensive support for quantum projects, the specific advantages and testing needs of various modalities, the growing significance of benchmarking and AI integration in quantum computing, and much more.

Nardo Manoloto, managing partner of Qubits Ventures, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. They discuss the firm's investments in quantum and future computing technologies, his belief that quantum AI is an imminent reality, insights on global quantum economies, the role of venture studios in de-risking investments, and much more

Bob Sorensen, chief analyst for quantum computing at Hyperion Research, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. They discuss the growing interest in on-premises quantum computing, their recent survey of the substantial potential ROI for enterprises using quantum optimization processes, the reality of Quantum AI, useful lessons that quantum vendors can learn from HPC vendors, and much more.

Lute Maleki, founder and CEO of OEwaves, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. They discuss the development of advanced quantum technology components, such as narrowband lasers, the company's origins at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and its evolution, the importance of narrow linewidth lasers for precision and efficiency in quantum applications, and much more

Dominik Ulmer, Chief Quantum Solutions officer at ParTec, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Dominik discusses ParTec's transition from a traditional HPC software company to integrating quantum computing into their offerings. He explains their approach to hybrid classical-quantum systems, including virtualizing quantum computers as special nodes within HPC clusters and supporting various quantum modalities. Dominik highlights the importance of minimizing new infrastructure requirements for quantum systems, the use of emulators, and their support for hybrid on-premises and cloud integration. He also outlines ParTec's physical integration lab, future plans for a Quantum Workbench, and much more.

Lisa Lambert, CEO of Quantum Industry Canada, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Lisa discusses QIC's role as Canada's national consortium of quantum companies and its commitment to advancing the quantum technology sector. She describes common challenges such as funding, policy, and market access. Lisa highlights Canada's strong quantum ecosystem, strategic investments, and global collaborations with partners like the US and UK. She provides a compelling sales pitch for companies considering Canada as their home, and much more.

Nick Farina, CEO of EeroQ, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. They discuss EeroQ's unique approach to building quantum computers using electrons on helium with a CMOS chip substrate, a technology researched for over 20 years but revisited by Nick's co-founder at Caltech. Nick outlines the company's journey from its founding in 2016, its strategic focus on hardware, and plans to release a functional prototype soon with a goal of achieving 10,000 qubits by 2026. They also explore the technical advantages, future plans, and the company's commitment to quantum ethics. Nick highlights challenges such as the funding climate and potential negative impacts of quantum technology, and much more.

Catherine Vollgraff Heidweiller, product manager at Google Quantum AI, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Catherine describes the development of full-stack quantum computing, the importance of their 2019 quantum supremacy milestone, Google's product focus, and the early customers they work with. We discuss the evaluation of quantum usefulness, their error correction roadmap, the intersection of quantum computing and AI, the societal responsibilities of quantum development, and much more.

Thomas Ehmer from Merck KGaA is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Thomas discusses the rapid advancements in quantum computing architectures, recent breakthroughs in logical qubits, and quantum communication protocols. He describes potential quantum applications in logistics optimization and material sciences, highlighting collaborative efforts within initiatives like QUTAC. Thomas contemplates the necessity of in-house quantum computing resources, reflects on Germany's national investment in quantum technology, and much more. This episode was recorded in Oct '23

Yonatan Cohen, co-founder and CTO of Quantum Machines, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. They explore Quantum Machines' role in the quantum computing ecosystem, focusing on developing control electronics for quantum systems, the transition from academic to commercial customers, and the partnership with NVIDIA for enhanced computational capabilities. They also discuss Quantum Machines' contribution to establishing a quantum computing center in Israel, the integration of quantum and classical computing, and much more

Albert  Lehmeyer, a career consultant and headhunter is interviewed by Yuval Boger. They discuss the increasing competition for quantum talent, the geopolitical challenges affecting workforce development, and the need for more quantum awareness and education. They also discuss the salary gap between quantum and AI, advice on university education for quantum careers, the growing demand for quantum computer operators, and much more.

Nikolaj Zinner, co-founder of Kvantify, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Kvantify focuses on leveraging quantum computing for real-world applications, notably in optimization and computational drug discovery, through a unique algorithm, fast VQE, that efficiently calculates small molecules. Despite challenges in scaling and skepticism around variational algorithms, Nikolaj is optimistic about the field's potential. He describes a pragmatic approach to technology selection, anticipates a gradual advancement in quantum computing, potentially marked by breakthroughs in encryption or efficient problem-solving algorithms, and much more.

A team of undergraduates who excelled at MIT's iQuHack Quantum Hackathon are interviewed by Yuval Boger. They discuss their journey, the challenge they tackled—optimizing the "maximum independent set problem" on a quantum computer for machine learning applications—and their personal backgrounds and aspirations in quantum computing. They all exhibit a shared interest in leveraging quantum computing to solve complex problems and reflect on mentorship, teamwork, future career paths, and much more.

Daniel Volz and Enrique (Kike) Solano from Kipu Quantum are interviewed by Yuval Boger. They discuss their focus on achieving quantum advantage, the significant progress they are seeing, their hardware-dependent approach and application-specific strategies. Daniel and Kike predict that optimization and machine learning will be among the first areas to demonstrate practical quantum advantage, describe their geopolitical approach, and much more.

Florian Neukart, Chief Product Officer of Terra Quantum, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Terra Quantum, a company with a broad approach in quantum technologies, focuses on creating diverse products ranging from software to hardware, cryptography, and quantum algorithms. Florian discusses the launch of TQ42, a software platform designed to make quantum computing accessible to experts and non-experts and the company's breakthrough in achieving room-temperature superconductivity in graphite. He addresses the optimization of quantum algorithms for specific machines, the role of hybrid algorithms in AI, the potential of real quantum hardware, and much more.

Suvi Lampila and Miikka Sainio from SSH Communications Security, a European cyber defense company, are interviewed by Yuval Boger. SSH, known for inventing the SSH protocol, focuses on secure communication and access management. They discusses SSH's efforts in integrating post-quantum cryptography into their products, highlighting the launch of their quantum-safe solutions, elaborate on the challenges of updating operational technology for quantum safety and the importance of pragmatic solutions. They emphasize the need for market education on PQ, the urgency of preparing for quantum threats, their concerns about the future impact of quantum computing on security, and much more

Niccolo Somaschi, CEO of Quandela, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Niccolo describes the company's approach to quantum computing, emphasizing the use of photonics and semiconductor technologies to manipulate photonic qubits. He highlights Quandela's focus on building commercially useful quantum computers, the development of a unique programming framework for transforming gate-based circuits into photonic operations, the deployment of their 6-qubit processor, the challenges for scaling photonic quantum computers, and much more.