Entangled Things

Episode 149: Following the Money in Quantum Computing

In Episode 149, Patrick and Ciprian take stock of where the money in quantum is flowing. The conversation covers IBM's plan to invest more than $10 billion over five years, the US Department of Commerce's nine letters of intent totaling over two billion dollars under the CHIPS Act, and QEra's $230 million raise with Nvidia involvement. The team dig into which modalities are getting the spotlight, why neutral atoms are drawing attention, and what Microsoft's Majorana 2 bet could mean if it holds water. The episode closes on the bigger picture — whether we're nearing a defining moment for quantum like ChatGPT was for AI, the geopolitical dimensions of the race, and the importance of getting to the quantum-born generation.

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Episode 148: Gustavo Cancelo on Bridging Classical and Quantum Computing

In Episode 148, Gustavo Cancelo, Senior Scientist at Fermilab near Chicago, joins Patrick and Ciprian to talk about QICK, the Quantum Instrumentation Control Kit, an open source platform developed at Fermilab that has become a widely adopted tool for quantum control and readout across four continents. Gustavo walks through what quantum control actually involves, why calibration and characterization are as important as the qubits themselves, and how QICK's MIT license and affordability have lowered the barrier to entry for universities and startups worldwide. The conversation covers QICK's reach into quantum sensing and networking, including dark matter detection experiments, before closing on QICK 2 — a next-generation version with onboard AI engines and low-latency inter-box communication designed with quantum error correction at scale in mind. Large industry partners including Microsoft and HRL have recently adopted QICK, and QBlocks has acquired commercial distribution rights ahead of the IEEE QSC conference in Toronto in September (https://ieeecsc.org/event/conference/2026-ieee-quantum-week)

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Episode 147: Steve Girvin on Algorithms, Modalities, and the Road Ahead

In Episode 147, Steve Girvin returns for his third appearance to take stock of where quantum stands across research, hardware, and the commercial landscape. The team cover the ongoing challenge of discovering new quantum algorithms — and why better hardware may be what unlocks them — before moving into the state of the three leading modalities: superconducting qubits, trapped ions, and neutral atoms. Steve walks through the wiring problem facing superconducting systems at scale, why cold atoms are on a steeply rising learning curve, and what photonic approaches like Xanadu and PsiQuantum are betting on. The conversation closes on dynamic circuits — a hybrid model where quantum and classical computation are deeply interwoven mid-algorithm — and why that may be one of the most powerful and least understood frontiers in the field.

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Episode 146: Relational Intelligence and Quantum Entertainment with Bob Coecke

In Episode 146, Bob Coecke, Founder and CEO of Relational Intelligence returns alongside Alessandro Cheli, Categorical Machine Learning Operations at Relational Intelligence, to introduce two brand new companies. The bulk of the conversation covers Relational Intelligence, built on the idea that intelligence — human, mechanical, or otherwise — is better understood through relationships than through the reductive, static frameworks that dominate western scientific thinking. The team dig into relational modeling, the DisCoPy Python library for working with string diagrams and category theory, and why this approach produces AI that is interpretable and formally verifiable in a way neural networks are not. The conversation also touches on how the architecture is quantum-native from the ground up, meaning it won't need to be retrofitted when scalable quantum hardware arrives. Bob closes with a brief look at Quantum Entertainment Berlin, including a quantum guitar performance at Wacken Open Air and a VR game designed to teach quantum mechanics by being genuinely fun to play.

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Episode 145: Fred Chong on Building the Hybrid Quantum Future

In Episode 145, Fred Chong returns to discuss what's new at Infleqtion, now a public company, and the work that's keeping him busy across both academia and industry. The team dig into Quantum for Bio, a multimodal cancer biomarker discovery project developed with Welcome Leap and now continuing with IBM, where hybrid quantum-classical algorithms are uncovering relationships between genes, RNA, and tumor imaging that classical methods haven't been able to tackle. Fred shares Peter Shor's perspective that the shortage of quantum algorithms reflects a shortage of good machines, not a shortage of ideas, and why that's an optimistic take. The conversation also covers neutral atoms as a maturing modality, Infleqtion's dual-species machine and how it reduces the need for physical qubit movement, and the concept of interleaving error-corrected qubit tiles to reduce long-range communication costs.

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Episode 144: Quantum Error Correction with Todd Brun

In Episode 144, Todd Brun, Professor of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and Physics at the University of Southern California, returns to break down where quantum error correction stands today. The team cover the transition from theoretical thresholds to real experimental demonstrations, why decoding latency matters as much as code quality, and the counterintuitive insight at the heart of quantum error correction — that you can measure what went wrong without measuring the data itself. Todd also weighs in on the trade-offs between modalities when it comes to implementing error correction in hardware, and closes with a look at how far the field has come since the early nineties when quantum computing was just an idea.

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Episode 143: Microsoft's Majorana 2 Breakthrough

In Episode 143, Patrick and Ciprian break down Microsoft's Majorana 2 announcement and what it means for the future of topological quantum computing. The team cover the physics behind the tetron architecture, why switching from aluminum to lead in the nanowire construction matters, and what coherence times north of twenty seconds — and in some cases a full minute — represent for the field. The conversation weighs Microsoft's history of playing close to the vest, the DARPA program backing the approach, and the newly aggressive 2029 commercial timeline. Patrick and Ciprian also disclose their long history as Microsoft partners and VPs, and close with a broader look at where the modality race stands heading into what may be the final stretch of the NISQ era.

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Episode 142: Photonics, Physics, and AI’s Energy Problem with Yuping Huang

In Episode 142, Yuping Huang, CEO and Chairman of Quantum Computing Inc and Physics Professor at Stevens Institute of Technology, joins Patrick and Ciprian to make the case for photonics, not just as a modality, but as a philosophy. QCI's approach starts with the physics rather than mapping quantum onto classical architecture, leading to machines that look nothing like what most people expect a quantum computer to look like. Yuping walks through the deceptively hard problem of deterministically generating entangled photon pairs, why you don't need a million entangled photons to build something useful, and why QCI operates entirely at room temperature, if it can't fit in a backpack, it won't end up in users' hands. The conversation closes on Neural Wave, a hybrid photonic-digital system that offloads computation into the optical domain and cuts AI energy consumption by orders of magnitude.

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Episode 141: Chasing Fidelity with Mike Piech

In Episode 141, Mike Piech, Vice President of Business Development at Rigetti Computing, joins Patrick and Ciprian to talk hardware. Rigetti recently announced their 108-qubit system and is targeting 99.5% two-qubit gate fidelity by end of year, with a thousand physical qubits in sight by 2029. Mike breaks down why superconducting qubits are built on decades of semiconductor manufacturing know-how, what the Josephson junction actually does and why non-linearity is the key to isolating a usable qubit state, and why a macroscopic circuit behaving quantumly is one of the more remarkable phenomena in modern physics. The conversation also covers Rigetti's international work — including a 36-qubit system at the UK National Quantum Computing Centre and a new 108-qubit deployment in India with CDAC. The time to start learning quantum is now.

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Episode 140: Adaptable Cryptography with Yoon Auh

In Episode 140, Patrick and Ciprian are joined by Yoon Auh, founder of NUTS Technologies & BOLTS Technologies. The team discuss the unique approach to cryptography designed to future-proof data against quantum threats. Discover how his protocols enable dynamic encryption, adapting to evolving security needs. This conversation highlights the urgency of innovation and the strategic role of adaptable cryptography in today's rapidly changing landscape.

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Episode 139: Quantum and Chemistry with Bert de Jong

In Episode 139, Patrick and Ciprian are joined by Bert de Jong, senior scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The team discusses quantum computing's role in material science and energy, exploring industry challenges and strategic partnerships. The conversation emphasizes innovation urgency and national labs' influence on the future. Bert de Jong is the Director of the Quantum Systems Accelerator, which is part of the National Quantum Initiative. In addition, de Jong is the Team Director of the Accelerated Research for Quantum Computing (ARQC) Team MACH-Q, funded by DOE ASCR, focused on developing software stacks for near-term quantum computing devices. In addition, de Jong has a program in AI and machine learning to understand biomolecular processes, and discover new materials and molecular crystals for gas adsorption. de Jong serves as the Department Head for Computational Sciences, and leads the Applied Computing for Scientific Discovery Group, which advances scientific computing by developing and enhancing applications in key disciplines, as well as developing HPC, quantum and AI tools and libraries for addressing general problems in computational science.

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Episode 138: Trapped Ion Technology

In Episode 138, Patrick and Ciprian explore how MIT’s new photonic chip approach promises to pave the way for more scalable, energy-efficient trapped ion quantum computers. The team discuss why controlling ions with integrated photonics could dramatically lower costs, boost qubit stability, and solve long-standing scalability hurdles. They also break down how these tiny antennas routing light directly to the trapped ions remove the need for bulky external lasers, opening the door to compact, room-temperature quantum systems, potentially revolutionizing everything from nanotech to medicine.

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Episode 137: Parallel IQCC With Scott Genin

In Episode 137, Scott Genin, Vice President of Materials Discovery at OTI Lumionics, unveils how GPU-accelerated quantum chemistry is revolutionizing material science. The discussion highlights the limitations of current quantum hardware and the role of AI in overcoming these challenges. Scott shares insights into how classical simulations can mimic quantum computers, pushing the boundaries of what's possible. He emphasizes the significance of these advancements for real-world applications, from OLEDs to new catalysts. This episode is essential for anyone interested in the future of quantum computing and material discovery. See more about the announcement here: https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.08883

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Episode 136: Five Years of Entangled Things

In Episode 136, Patrick and Ciprian dive into the last five years of Entangled Things and explore potential of quantum computing over the next five years, focusing on the critical signals that indicate breakthrough moments. They discuss the parallels between quantum and AI advancements, highlighting how sudden leaps in technology can redefine industries. The conversation covers the evolution of quantum sensors, the synergy between classical and quantum computing, and the importance of error correction and qubit stability.

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Episode 135: Nanak Nihal Khalsa on the Blockchain

In Episode135, Patrick, Ciprian, and Nanak Nihal Khalsa discuss the critical importance of transitioning to post-quantum cryptography. The team explore the challenges faced by the industry, the dual threats posed by AI and quantum computing, and the need for proactive measures to secure digital identities and assets. The discussion highlights the urgency of addressing these issues before they become imminent threats, emphasizing the role of narratives in shaping the future of blockchain and quantum computing.

Episode 134: The Journey to Quantum Safe with Ray Harishankar

In Episode 134, Ray Harishankar discusses the critical importance of quantum safe. He highlights the challenges posed by quantum algorithms, the need for enterprises to understand their encryption, and the steps to take to address these issues. The discussion also covers the current state of awareness among organizations, the importance of taking action now, and the need for industry collaboration to ensure a secure future against quantum threats.

Episode 133: Yuval Boger, The Future Is Closer Than Most People Think

In Episode 133, Yuval Boger from QuEra discusses the revolutionary impact of room-temperature quantum computing, focusing on the advancements in neutral atom technology. The conversation covers the scalability of error-corrected qubits, and the strategic benefits over other quantum modalities. Yuval also highlights the importance of collaborations with institutions like Harvard and MIT, and the implications for industries such as pharmaceuticals and cryptography. This episode emphasizes the need for industries to adapt to these innovations, paving the way for a new era of technological advancement.

Episode 132: Quantum Areas of Discussion

In Episode 132, Patrick and Ciprian delve into the multifaceted world of quantum technology, discussing its implications in computing, communication, security, and sensing. They explore the current state of quantum computing, the challenges of quantum key distribution, and the potential synergy between quantum technology and artificial intelligence. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding quantum phenomena and its applications in various fields, emphasizing the need for continued research and innovation.

Episode 131: Unraveling the Mysteries of Entanglement

In episode 131, Patrick and Ciprian delve into the complexities of quantum entanglement, discussing its implications, measurement challenges, and its critical role in quantum computing and communication. They explore recent findings on the nature of measurement, and provide analogies to simplify quantum concepts. The conversation highlights the ongoing mysteries of entanglement and its foundational importance in the quantum realm.

Episode 130: Navigating the Quantum Security Landscape with Rich Campagna

In Episode 130, Rich Campagna from Palo Alto Networks discusses the critical importance of preparing for quantum security threats, particularly focusing on post-quantum cryptography. The conversation covers the urgency of upgrading security infrastructure, the challenges organizations face in this transition, and the concept of crypto agility to future-proof security measures. Rich also highlights the role of AI in enhancing cybersecurity and the practical limitations of quantum key distribution. The episode emphasizes the need for organizations to take proactive steps in managing their cryptographic inventory and preparing for the inevitable shift to quantum-resistant algorithms.