Quarks: The Building Blocks of Matter Revealed #shorts
About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket © 2026 Google LLC
Quantum Computers
The End of Moore's Law. The Beginning of the Next Era of <b>Computing</b>
The End of Moore's Law. The Beginning of the Next Era of Computing There is no better place to begin than with the biggest story in computing. For almost 80 years, the industry has been driven by one simple idea: make computers faster. From the invention of the transistor to mainframes, personal computers, cloud computing and AI, every generation has benefited from extraordinary gains in processing power, driven by the steady progress described by Moore's Law. But this paradigm is now reaching its natural limits. Engineering innovation continues, but as transistors approach near-atomic scale, shrinking them further no longer delivers the exponential improvements in performance, cost, and energy efficiency that transformed computing for decades. At the same time, demand for computing is accelerating, fueled by AI, scientific discovery and increasingly complex industrial challenges. The next chapter of computing has begun and it promises to be even more remarkable. Welcome to the first edition of Quantum Untangled. Each month we'll explore how quantum computing is developing alongside AI, high-performance computing and next-generation processors. We'll explain the technology in straightforward language, share our latest developments, and hear from the researchers and engineers shaping the future of computing. Quantum computing is no longer confined to research laboratories. Earlier this year, we found that 96% of business leaders expect quantum computing to have an impact on their organizations. The question is no longer if, but when. We are helping shape that future. Beyond Moore's Law Quantum computing is not a replacement for today's computers, nor is it simply a faster version of them. Instead, it is designed to solve a different class of problems: those involving enormous numbers of possible combinations or the simulation of complex quantum systems. Researchers believe quantum computing could transform fields including drug discovery, advanced materials, financial optimization, logistics and
IonQ vs. Quantinuum vs. Infleqtion vs. Rigetti vs. D-Wave: Which Is the Best <b>Quantum</b> ...
Quantum computing offers the promise of being the next big technological breakthrough after artificial intelligence (AI). The technology has drawn the interest of the U.S. government, which has been investing in the sector. Meanwhile, investors can buy the stocks of several public companies that are attempting to develop fault-tolerant quantum computers using a variety of different techniques. Five of the best-known pure plays in the space are IonQ (IONQ -2.34%), Quantinuum (QNT -6.32%), Rigetti Computing (RGTI -0.33%), Infleqtion (INFQ +3.54%), and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS -2.53%). Let's consider which of these quantum stocks looks like the best buy. IonQ and Quantinuum NYSE: IONQ Key Data Points All quantum computers are built around qubits, which are extremely sensitive to even the slightest external interference. As a result, their computations have high error rates. The error-reduction and error-correction problems are among the chief challenges faced by every company trying to make quantum computing practical. The two companies at the forefront of accuracy, though, are IonQ and Quantinuum. Both companies use trapped-ion technology: Each qubit in their computers is made out of an individual charged atom (aka, an ion). This method results in qubits that are more stable than qubits created using other techniques. The result is that IonQ has achieved 99.99% 2-qubit gate fidelity (a standard metric for quantum computing accuracy), while Quantinuum sits at 99.92%. The companies differ primarily in how they hold their qubits in place. IonQ uses a combination of lasers and microwave antennas built into its chips, while Quantinuum employs only lasers, arguing that microwave antennas slow computational speed too much. Quantinuum is known for its comprehensive software stack, while IonQ has been developing an entire quantum ecosystem, having made acquisitions in quantum sensing, networking, and satellite transmission. It is even in the process of acquiring quantum chip foundry
Zero Point Cryogenics to build first US facility at Illinois <b>quantum</b> campus
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois will soon be home to the first US location for quantum company Zero Point Cryogenics. Their ultra-chilling refrigerators will be used to keep massive computers running at the state-of-the-art quantum campus in Chicago. The Canadian manufacturer plans to support the needs of companies working at or collaborating with the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park on Chicago's south side. Gov. JB Pritzker said Zero Point's ultra-low temperature cryogenic systems are critical for quantum computers, as the specialized fridges will be colder than outer space. "As the race toward a quantum future accelerates, demand for that expertise is only growing," Pritzker said. "Every breakthrough in quantum computing depends on the kind of precision engineering that ZPC delivers." The company will receive incentives through the state's Manufacturing Illinois Chips for Real Opportunity, or MICRO, program. Zero Point has agreed to make a substantial capital investment and create more than 20 new high-growth specialized jobs in Illinois. CEO Chris Cassin said he's excited to be at the epicenter of the rapidly evolving industry. "We expect these critical partners to include American academic and research institutions, US-based quantum computing companies, the US government and military, and military contractors," Cassin said. State and local leaders noted Zero Point is one of only six companies in the world with the expertise to design and manufacture this equipment. "Illinois is making a deliberate choice," said Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago). "We do not simply want to host a quantum computer. We intend to help build the entire quantum economy around it." The University of Illinois is a foundational partner for the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park. Copyright 2026. WAND TV. All rights reserved.
US pursues utility-scale <b>quantum computers</b> with new $125M DARPA validation deal
US pursues utility-scale quantum computers with new $125M DARPA validation deal PsiQuantum has secured a $125 million DARPA deal to expand testing of its utility-scale quantum computing technology. Read Next: US Navy picks $70 million cruise missile designed for rapid mass productionQuantum computing company PsiQuantum has secured a $125 million expanded agreement with the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to test and evaluate its plans for building utility-scale quantum computers. The performance-based agreement is the company’s largest government award to date and expands work under DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI), a program designed to assess whether commercial quantum computing approaches can eventually deliver large-scale, fault-tolerant systems. PsiQuantum is one of two companies that have reached Stage C, the final and most advanced phase of QBI. The latest agreement will support evaluations of the company’s hardware designs, key components, system-level performance and software. The funding will also help PsiQuantum invest in infrastructure at facilities in Milpitas, California, and Chicago, Illinois, as the company works toward building and deploying utility-scale quantum computers. DARPA puts quantum plans The new agreement expands an evaluation process that has involved extensive technical scrutiny. DARPA experts have reviewed PsiQuantum’s designs, examined prototype reports, conducted on-site testing, and watched demonstrations of key components and fabrication processes. The agency has also evaluated resource estimates for running complex quantum algorithms and gained access to Construct, PsiQuantum’s platform for developing fault-tolerant algorithms. More from Military See All” DARPA’s widely respected team of experts has stress-tested PsiQuantum’s approach, provided an independent and clear-eyed assessment and validation of our designs and our teams, and ultimately made our company and technology all the better for it.” The agreement builds on PsiQuantum’s earlier work with DARPA. The agency selected the company in January 2023 for the initial stage of the Underexplored Systems for
AI-Enabled Optimization of <b>Quantum</b> Circuit Design for Realistic Nuclear Problems
AI-Enabled Optimization of Quantum Circuit Design for Realistic Nuclear Problems Genesis Mission Quantum computers have the potential to simulate nuclear systems beyond what can be described using classical computers. However, translating a nuclear physics problem into an executable quantum workflow requires navigating a vast design space. Researchers must choose among different methods for encoding the problem, select appropriate quantum algorithms, map those algorithms onto specific hardware architectures, and optimize the resulting quantum circuits. Each choice affects accuracy, computational cost and whether the calculation can run on available quantum processors. Making these decisions manually is time-consuming, requires specialized expertise across multiple domains, and often produces suboptimal results. An Argonne-led team is developing an artificial intelligence (AI) agent to automate this process. The system will learn to design quantum workflows by exploring the space of encoding schemes, algorithmic strategies and hardware configurations, then evaluating the resulting circuits against performance metrics such as gate count, circuit depth and expected accuracy. The AI agent will use reinforcement learning and other optimization techniques to identify efficient quantum workflows tailored to specific nuclear physics calculations. The project addresses a DOE Genesis Mission challenge area focused on discovering quantum algorithms with AI, specifically targeting quantum advantage for nuclear and hadronic systems. During the Phase I effort, the team will focus on representative nuclear structure and scattering problems, developing the AI framework and demonstrating its ability to generate competitive quantum circuits. The long-term goal is to create a generalizable tool that accelerates the adoption of quantum computing in nuclear physics, enabling researchers to tackle problems that remain inaccessible to both classical computation and manual quantum-circuit design.
IBM commits $50M in <b>quantum</b> access for US Genesis Mission
IBM is committing up to $50 million worth of quantum compute access for the US Genesis Mission, and more An IBM project was also selected to accelerate AI-driven quantum application discovery. IBM envisions a future of compute that combines quantum, AI, and classical into a framework capable of solving challenges beyond any of those compute hardware paradigms alone. That’s why we’re excited to announce today that the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) Genesis Mission selected an IBM project to accelerate AI-driven scientific discovery in a highly selective process, and that IBM will contribute up to $50 million of quantum system access to further the objectives of the DoE’s plan to help realize that future. The department today announced the first projects selected under the Genesis Mission Request for Applications (RFA) as part of President Trump’s Genesis Mission. IBM is participating extensively in this mission as a member of the Genesis Mission Consortium, a select group of industry leaders committed to making the operation successful. “Achieving the ambitious vision of the Genesis Mission will require invention and innovation across every layer of computation — from hardware and architecture to algorithms,” said Jay Gambetta, Director of IBM Research and IBM Fellow. “As IBM continues to build the future of computing, we are prepared and honored to help the United States bring to life a new platform that weaves together quantum computers, AI, and high-performance computing to dramatically expand our country’s capacity for scientific discovery.” The Genesis Mission is a historic national initiative led by the DoE, which is building the world’s most powerful integrated science discovery platform. By uniting government, industry, academia, and philanthropy, the mission is accelerating breakthroughs in energy, scientific discovery, and national security through a new platform that combines AI, supercomputing, quantum computing, and advanced scientific instruments. The Genesis
Towards a <b>quantum computer</b> that learns from its errors
July 22, 2026 Volodymyr Sivak and Paul Klimov, Research Scientists, Google Quantum AI, Google Research By integrating reinforcement learning with quantum error correction, we showed that a quantum computer can continuously adapt to drift and remain stable during long computations. Imagine a symphony orchestra performing a complex masterpiece. If the violins drifted out of tune every few measures, the ensemble would constantly have to stop and retune their instruments. Thankfully, this doesn't happen in an orchestra because the instruments reliably stay in tune. However, it is the current reality of operating a quantum computer. Since quantum computers are fundamentally analog machines that are sensitive to drift, maintaining reliable operation requires perpetually recalibrating their control parameters, i.e., the frequencies, amplitudes, and phases of the analog signals choreographing the qubits. Today, this requires fully terminating the entire quantum computation. This complete decoupling of computation and calibration represents a fundamental bottleneck for the future, as useful quantum algorithms must run continuously for days or even months. To address this, in “Reinforcement learning control of quantum error correction”, published in Nature, we demonstrated a reinforcement learning (RL) framework in which an autonomous agent learns from quantum error detections to continuously steer thousands of control parameters, stabilizing the quantum system against drift during the computation. In short: we found a way to tune the instruments while the music plays. In a concert hall, a detuned instrument is immediately heard. The quantum realm offers no such luxury. As if the very act of listening ruined the performance, measuring the qubits collapses their quantum superposition states. To preserve the quantum information, we instead employ Quantum Error Correction (QEC), a technique that exploits redundancy to create “logical qubits” out of many physical qubits, and uses specialized parity checks on the physical qubits to digitize the analog noise into
Infleqtion Adds 50 Logical-Qubit System To Chicago <b>Quantum</b> Hub
In A Nutshell: Infleqtion to deliver neutral-atom quantum computing platform to Illinois in 2027, one of the first contracts for a fault-tolerant, Nvidia NVQLink-integrated, neutral-atom quantum system, according to the company. Chicago, Illinois is laying the foundations to become the country’s quantum computing equivalent to Silicon Valley. Now, Infleqtion is moving to help anchor Chicago as the center of gravity for quantum computing in the United States, pairing technical progress with a commercialization thesis tied initially to energy infrastructure applications. You can explore neutral atom technology and read about Infleqtion’s approach here. (Disclosure: Infleqtion is a client of Cambrian-AI Research, the author’s firm) Could Chicago Become The Center for Quantum? Illinois Governor JB Pritzker envisions the Midwest’s largest city could become the foundation for the future quantum infrastructure. “Bringing a state-of-the-art neutral-atom quantum computer to Illinois means our researchers, entrepreneurs and innovators will have access to some of the most advanced quantum computing technology in the world,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Partnerships and investments like this are what have made Illinois a global hub for quantum. From a growing Chicago team to a landmark quantum system now coming to Illinois, I’m proud to have Infleqtion as a partner in building our state's quantum future.” In fact, some involved predict that some 200K quantum jobs could be coming to the Midwest in next 10 years, and 60% of those are not PhDs. Quantum could become a $1T industry in the next decade. Infleqtion this week outlined a multi-pronged expansion in Illinois, including plans to deploy the first neutral-atom quantum computer at the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park (IQMP) by 2027, and opening a downtown Chicago Quantum Innovation Center. The announcements collectively signal a shift from research to development, positioning toward early-stage deployment and ecosystem building. Sqale: The Neutral Atom Quantum Computer
PsiQuantum Secures $125 Million Expanded Agreement with DARPA under QBI Program
Photonic quantum computing developer PsiQuantum has signed a $125 million expanded tasking agreement with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) under the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI). The performance-based award represents PsiQuantum’s most valuable U.S. government contract to date. The agreement funds verification and validation tasks for PsiQuantum’s utility-scale hardware architecture, custom integrated photonic manufacturing processes, and supporting cryogenic infrastructure as the company advances through Stage C—QBI’s final assessment phase focused on independent technical verification. Expanding On-Site Verification and Component-Level Testing Building on a $31.8 million Stage C award from September 2025, the new $125 million tasking broadens DARPA’s hands-on evaluation framework. Under QBI Stage C, DARPA-led technical audit teams receive direct access to PsiQuantum’s internal design pipelines, manufacturing lines, and algorithm verification engines. The expanded testing scope focuses on four key operational areas: - Advanced Material Manufacturing: On-site inspection and yield auditing of barium titanate (BTO) thin-film electro-optic modulators produced at the PsiFactory facility in Milpitas, California. - Photonic Edge Coupling & Assembly: Hands-on testing of automated, high-volume chip-to-fiber optical packaging and cryogenic interconnect assemblies. - System-Level Cryogenic Validation: Verification of custom cabinet-scale cryogenic cooling infrastructure engineered to maintain photonic routing and detector arrays. - Algorithmic Resource Benchmarking: Live verification of fault-tolerant algorithm resource estimates using Construct, PsiQuantum’s proprietary software platform for fault-tolerant compilation. Capital Stacking and Manufacturing Buildout The expanded DARPA tasking follows a May 2026 Letter of Intent signed between PsiQuantum and the U.S. Department of Commerce for $100 million in proposed direct funding under the CHIPS and Science Act. Combined with state-level capital commitments in Illinois—including its anchor role at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) in Chicago—PsiQuantum is scaling up domestic manufacturing capacity for its silicon-photonic quantum chips. By subjecting its photonic QPU designs to DARPA’s independent scrutiny, PsiQuantum aims to validate its roadmap
What Majorana 2 Means for <b>Quantum Computing</b>
Microsoft recently unveiled Majorana 2, a second-generation topological quantum processor with improved reliability and extended qubit lifetime. This development has renewed interest in whether topological encoding can reduce the substantial error-correction overhead that limits current quantum computing platforms, potentially providing a faster path to scalable, fault-tolerant systems. Image Credit: MeshCube/Shutterstock.com Quantum error correction remains the central engineering challenge in the field, as all current qubit platforms, including superconducting circuits and trapped ions, are limited by decoherence, which degrades quantum states due to environmental noise before computation completes. Standard schemes, such as the surface code, require thousands of physical qubits to encode a single logical qubit, resulting in substantial overhead for scalable systems. Microsoft’s topological approach proposes an alternative foundation in which information is encoded in a manner intrinsically resistant to local perturbations. If realized at scale, it could significantly reduce qubit overhead for fault-tolerant computation, potentially reshaping hardware design strategies across the quantum computing sector.1 What Is Majorana 2? Majorana 2 is Microsoft's latest topological quantum processor, built on a planar InAs/lead semiconductor-superconductor heterostructure. The chip follows the February 2025 Majorana 1 release, replacing the earlier aluminum superconductor with lead, a heavier-element material that increases the topological gap. As a result, the parity lifetime improved from millisecond-scale values in Majorana 1 to approximately 20 seconds, substantially enhancing the stability and reliability of the encoded quantum state. The device architecture is designed to host Majorana zero modes (MZMs), exotic quasiparticle excitations predicted to emerge at the boundaries of one-dimensional topological superconductors. These quasiparticles provide the foundation for topological qubits by encoding quantum information nonlocally across spatially separated states rather than at a single physical location, making the stored information inherently more resistant to localized disturbances. In the underlying Kitaev chain model, this behavior arises when electron-like and hole-like states hybridize at
Quantinuum and SoftBank Publish Framework Linking <b>Quantum</b> Hardware to Enterprise Use Cases
In a joint white paper published today, Quantinuum (NASDAQ: QNT) and Japan-based telecommunications conglomerate SoftBank Corp. have outlined a strategic timeline mapping industrial quantum chemistry and graph analytics workloads directly onto Quantinuum’s multi-generational hardware roadmap. The publication, titled “Quantum Computing Frontiers,” establishes a framework to evaluate when specific problem classes transition from classical simulation into execution on quantum processing units (QPUs). The roadmap is designed to guide enterprise procurement and inform future business models for quantum AI data centers—hybrid facilities that co-locate fault-tolerant quantum processors alongside High-Performance Computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence workloads. [ Quantinuum x SoftBank Hardware Roadmap ] Current Generation ──► Helios (3rd-gen QCCD architecture / Highest 2-qubit gate fidelity). 2027 Milestone ──► Sol (Anticipated 4th-gen trapped-ion hardware release). 2029 Milestone ──► Apollo (Expanded physical qubit scaling and QEC operations). 2030s Milestone ──► Lumos (Large-scale Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing / FTQC).Testing Logical Circuit Break-Even in Quantum Chemistry A key aspect of the joint research is the experimental execution of error-corrected quantum circuits using the Steane [[7,1,3]] code on Quantinuum’s current-generation Helios hardware. Rather than measuring break-even performance on isolated physical logic gates or single-qubit memories, the study evaluated break-even fidelity across entire, algorithm-inspired quantum phase estimation (QPE) circuits. Key findings across the targeted application domains include: - Excited-State Quantum Chemistry: The study focuses on photochemical reactions and optical switching materials—molecules that reversibly modulate light for applications in silicon photonics, high-density data storage, and telecommunications routing. Modeling these excited states requires capturing strong electronic correlations and conical intersections that scale exponentially on classical supercomputers. The paper establishes a timeline where calculations scale from small proof-of-concept spin orbitals on current systems to fault-tolerant simulations on the upcoming Lumos platform in the 2030s. - Topological Data Analysis (TDA) in NISQ Networks: In contrast to quantum chemistry, the paper positions TDA (specifically Laplacian-moment
Singapore's military to explore <b>quantum computing</b> for mission planning
Argus - stock.adobe.com Singapore's military to explore quantum computing for mission planning The Singapore Armed Forces' Digital and Intelligence Service and the Defence Science and Technology Agency are working with IBM to test quantum optimisation for military logistics The Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) and the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) have teamed up with IBM to explore the use of quantum computing for complex mission planning, starting with logistics. Under the tie-up, DIS and DSTA engineers will work with IBM specialists to develop and evaluate quantum optimisation approaches for a representative mission planning problem, with cloud access to IBM's quantum computing resources and support from the company. The goal, according to Singapore's Ministry of Defence (Mindef), is to build indigenous quantum expertise and assess whether quantum approaches can eventually outperform conventional methods on selected planning processes. “Quantum computing has the potential to transform how complex mission planning problems are solved, and we believe it is important to engage early to understand both its opportunities and limitations,” said Military Expert 7 Guo Jinghua, commander of the SAF’s C4 (command, control, communications and computers) and Digitalisation Command and CIO of the DIS. “By investing in our people and capabilities today, we will be better prepared to harness quantum technologies as they mature.” Speaking at a customer panel on the sidelines of the event, Guo, whose command builds and operates the SAF's core digital stack, which spans communications networks, cloud, datacentres and common software and artificial intelligence (AI) applications, explained why optimisation problems such as military resupplies are a natural fit for quantum machines. A resupply run across just 20 locations, he noted, can be sequenced in about two quintillion ways, with each additional stop scaling the problem exponentially. “Every armed force survives on logistics,” he said.
Interlune produces helium-3 using a process meant for the moon
Seattle-based Interlune says it has managed to produce 99% pure helium-3 from a standard supply of industrial-grade helium, marking a milestone for a technology that the company aims to use on the moon. The process, known as Cold Capture, could be profitably used on Earth even before Interlune begins lunar mining operations. Only 0.000137% of the world’s helium exists in the form of helium-3, as opposed to the much more common helium-4 isotope. But helium-3 is uniquely suited for use as a refrigerant for quantum computers. It can also be used in radiation detectors, medical scanners and eventually fusion reactors. Because of its rarity and utility, the price of helium-3 can range as high as $20 million per kilogram ($9 million per pound). Interlune is betting on the proposition that helium-3 is more abundant and easier to access on the moon, due to the lunar surface’s exposure to the solar wind. If Interlune’s business model works out, the company will be able to turn a profit by delivering lunar helium-3 to Earth for industrial applications. Interlune’s first objective was to show that Cold Capture could work as advertised. The process uses cryogenic distillation to separate helium-3 from ordinary helium at temperatures approaching absolute zero. “Capturing helium-3 from existing helium sounds deceptively simple,” Gary Lai, Interlune’s chief technology officer, said in a news release. “But helium-3 and ordinary helium are almost chemically identical, making them extraordinarily difficult to separate. Cold Capture exploits subtle physical differences between the two isotopes at cryogenic temperatures to recover helium-3 in a process designed to scale.” Interlune demonstrated Cold Capture at a small scale in early 2025, and received a $1.25 million small-business grant from the Department of the Air Force last November to scale up the technology for commercial production. Based on the experiments conducted
China Daily Reports AI Accelerates <b>Quantum Computing</b>, Experts Now Predict.
For four decades, error correction was a fundamental obstacle to building practical quantum computers, but artificial intelligence is now offering promising solutions. Andrew Chi-Chih Yao, Turing Award winner and Dean for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences at Tsinghua University, identifies AI for science as “the most interesting, important and promising direction for AI research over the next three to five years.” Yao notes that AI and quantum technologies are expanding the frontiers of human knowledge, with quantum AI emerging and the potential for significant progress over the next five to 10 years. Su Hao, inaugural dean of the Institute of General Physical Intelligence at Fudan University, proposes a solution to the problem of hallucinations in large language models: grounding them in physical reality by making predictions, taking action, and learning from reality’s feedback. Yao, also an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, highlights the potential for AI to accelerate progress in areas previously considered intractable, specifically citing the emergence of quantum AI as a frontier beyond present-day capabilities. The convergence of AI and quantum technologies expands the boundaries of knowledge, and is crucial because AI algorithms, while powerful, are fundamentally constrained by the laws of physics and mathematics; therefore, breakthroughs require tools that can operate within, and even extend, those boundaries. The application of AI isn’t limited to overcoming technical hurdles, but also offers a new approach to addressing fundamental limitations within AI itself. A shift in focus is underway within artificial intelligence research, moving beyond purely computational advancements toward systems grounded in physical interaction and demonstrable reliability. This emphasis stems from the recognition that even sophisticated algorithms are ultimately constrained by the fundamental laws governing the physical world. According to Hao, the industry will increasingly prioritize reliable system operation over spectacular demonstrations, with generalizability as the ultimate goal and reliability
Experts weigh in on AI
Experts weigh in on AI By Wang Xin | China Daily | Updated: 2026-07-21 10:54 Andrew Chi-Chih Yao, Turing Award winner, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, dean of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences at Tsinghua University From a theoretical perspective, I would say that AI for science is the most interesting, important and promising direction for AI research over the next three to five years. AI has demonstrated tremendous power across many domains, but AI algorithms still operate within the boundaries set by the laws of physics and mathematics. Many exciting avenues of exploration lie ahead, including emerging fields such as quantum AI, reliable large-scale AI systems, AI safety and AI for AI. AI and quantum technologies are two powerful tools that continue to expand the frontiers of human knowledge. AI can also accelerate the development of quantum computing. Error correction has been one of the greatest challenges in building quantum computers for the past 40 years, but AI has recently begun to provide promising solutions. Quantum AI is beginning to emerge. I believe we will see tremendous progress over the next five to 10 years. It represents a frontier beyond present-day AI and has the potential to become even more powerful.
Interlune claims helium-3 production through cryogenic distillation
Interlune claims helium-3 production through cryogenic distillation US natural resources company Interlune claims to have produced 99% pure helium-3 by cryogenically distilling Grade A helium resources. The company said its Cold Capture technology separated the highly rare helium-3 from ordinary helium at temperatures close to absolute zero. The helium isotope is obtained from the natural decay of tritium and is extremely rare on Earth. Helium specialist Richard Brook previously told gasworld helium-3 does not derive naturally in any great quantities or economically viable means. Interlune did not disclose the volumes of helium-3 produced or the quantities of helium required for the process. However, it claimed its cryogenic technology could address the need for helium-3 in quantum computing cooling and ultimately be used to harvest industrial quantities of helium-3 from lunar regolith. On a commercial level, Rob Meyerson, CEO of Interlune, explained, “Every litre of helium produced in the world contains trace amounts of helium-3.” “[Interlune’s cryogenic technology] plugs into existing helium liquefaction plant infrastructure to recover that helium-3 and turn it into a valuable product,” he added. If successfully integrated across domestic helium infrastructure, Interlune estimates its cryogenic technology would triple US production of helium-3. In May of this year, the company won a $6.9m NASA contract to develop and test a payload suite to measure gases in lunar soil and demonstrate early-stage extraction technologies for helium-3 and hydrogen. Helium-3 also has applications in the domestic defence sector, with the US Air Force using the rare isotope in research and development (R&D) programmes involving superconducting quantum computers. In November 2025, Interlune announced it had received a $1.2m Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Direct-to-Phase II contract from AFWERX, the innovation branch of the US Air Force, to develop its cryogenic helium-3 technology. Helium-3 purchase agreements Outside of AFWERX funding, Interlune has
8 Best <b>Quantum Computing</b> Stocks to Buy in 2026
At the moment, quantum computing stocks find themselves in choppy waters after cruising for some time. The benchmark S&P Kensho Global Quantum Computing Technologies Index is up 31.6% in 2026 as of July 20, but the index has shaved off 21.4% in July alone. The decline is a clear sign that despite their run-up earlier in 2026, quantum stocks are deeply speculative and often face severe price swings influenced by government investment and intervention, geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran or China, and a major push by technology companies to commercialize quantum-based artificial intelligence. [Sign up for stock news with our Invested newsletter.] Even so, market experts say the best view to take on quantum stocks, as always, is a long one. If you don’t have the stomach for that, think about asking the captain to drop you off at the next port of call. “The quantum sector is still well funded,” says Jianming Wen, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at Binghamton University in New York. “In fact, recent U.S. government support, including a reported $2 billion investment across quantum computing firms, shows that quantum computing is increasingly viewed as a national-security and industrial-competitiveness priority.” Other more specific events, like Quantinuum Inc.’s (ticker: QNT) successful early June IPO, which raised nearly $1.7 billion, also show that investor interest remains strong despite the technology still being in its early stages. Technically, the field has made real progress, especially in quantum error correction, logical qubits and hardware scaling. “Google’s Willow result, for example, demonstrated below-threshold quantum error correction behavior, which is an important milestone toward fault-tolerant quantum computing,” Wen says. Yet Wen advises caution: “We should be careful. This does not mean large-scale commercial quantum computers are already here, although the practical commercial timeline is likely staged.” What it
ORNL Deploys New IQM <b>Quantum Computer</b>
Newswise — With its acquisition of an on-site 20-qubit IQM Radiance quantum computer, the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory has taken another major stride forward in its research efforts to integrate quantum computing technology with classical high-performance computing (HPC). The new system, named Pathfinder, was launched June 16 in the Quantum Computer Deployment Lab at ORNL’s Translational Research Capability (TRC) building. “By adding Pathfinder to the array of cutting-edge systems available to our computational scientists, ORNL deepens its commitment to making the U.S. a leader in quantum science and technology,” said ORNL Director Stephen Streiffer. The IQM system was procured through the Institutional Capital Equipment program. Founded in 2018, Finland-based IQM Quantum Computers is a leading commercial builder of full-stack quantum computers. “ORNL has been at the frontier of American science for decades. Bringing IQM’s first-ever U.S. on-premises quantum computer here represents a significant milestone for us as we continue to expand our global footprint and put quantum capability into the hands of world-class institutions that can advance quantum adoption,” said Jan Goetz, CEO and Co-founder, IQM Quantum Computers. In addition to Quoll, the 6-qubit Quantum Brilliance cluster installed at the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF) last September, Pathfinder will enable researchers at ORNL’s Quantum Science Center (QSC) to develop new applications, algorithms and architectures by using the more powerful quantum-centric HPC (QHPC) paradigm. As a member of the QSC, IQM is supporting the center’s mission to build the next generation of quantum computing. Meanwhile, ORNL researchers, in multiple divisions that span the quantum sciences and technology, will accelerate their work to establish a hardware-agnostic software architecture for merging the capabilities of two very different computing technologies. “On-premises systems enable us to demonstrate quantum computing concepts that realize our goal of building a scalable, hybrid HPC ecosystem,”
Singapore's military is testing whether <b>quantum computers</b> can plan its missions
Singapore's armed forces are not claiming a quantum breakthrough. They are doing the more useful thing first: putting real military planning problems in front of IBM's machines and seeing what breaks. On July 21, IBM announced a partnership with the Singapore Armed Forces' Digital and Intelligence Service and the Defence Science and Technology Agency to explore quantum computing for mission planning and logistics optimization. The work is early. That matters. A military planner doesn't need another slide deck about quantum advantage. You need to know whether the machine can help when fuel, routes, vehicles, timing and enemy action all collide at once. The collaboration gives DIS and DSTA engineers cloud access to IBM quantum computing resources and puts them alongside IBM specialists on a representative mission-planning problem, according to the Ministry of Defence statement reported by The Quantum Insider and TNGlobal. That is the useful part. Singapore is not buying a finished battlefield system here. It is buying practice, technical judgment and a clearer view of where the technology still fails. Mission planning sounds abstract until you picture the work. A commander has to move people, vehicles and supplies across a changing battlespace while balancing constraints that rarely sit still. Classical optimization tools already do serious work here, and plenty of them are excellent. But some logistics problems become brutally hard as the number of choices and constraints grows. Quantum computing's promise is that, for certain optimization problems, it may eventually test useful routes through that complexity faster than classical-only approaches. Eventually is doing a lot of work. The announcement names mission planning and logistics optimization, not live deployment. It says DIS and DSTA will build expertise and evaluate whether quantum approaches can improve selected planning processes. That is a narrower claim, and it is the right one. Today's quantum