Monthly Archives: April 2021

What would happen if an AI gained control of the US militarys nuclear stash and decided to preemptively win World War 3 before any perceived enemy nations could react?

Fans of cinema from the 1980s may recognize that query as the plot to the classic science-fiction film Wargames starring a young Matthew Broderick. It was a great but terribly silly movie that paired nicely with popcorn and suspended disbelief. Nevertheless, the question it asked remains valid.

[Note: Spoilers ahead because the movie is more than 30 years old]

In the film, the AI is eventually stymied by Boolean logic after attempting to win against itself at Tic-Tac-Toe. Those who understand how AI actually works might find the entire plot of the movie preposterous, but the ending is especially chuckle-worthy. At least it used to be.

Todays computers use binary logic so, in essence, everythings a yes or no question to an AI running classic algorithms. Even when researchers design AI that rates things, they usually just break the degrees between ratings down into yes-or-no questions for the AI to answer in increments.

But tomorrows AI wont be stuck in the mire of classical physics. Useful quantum computers are just around the corner they should be here sometime between next Tuesday and the year 2121.

With quantum computers, our military systems wont be constrained to yes-or-no questions and they certainly wont have to run boring old binary simulations to determine the confidence factor for a given operation.

Prasanth Shyamsundar, a researcher at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, a Department of Energy research lab for the US government, recently published a fascinating paper describing two new types of algorithms that could revolutionize quantum computing and, potentially, lead to a quantum brain for military AI systems.

A press release from Fermi describes what the algorithms do by invoking the image of an AI sorting through a stack of 100 assorted vinyl records to find the sole jazz album. Under the normal AI paradigm, a deep learning system would be trained on what jazz sounds like and then it would parse each record individually until one of them meets a pass/fail threshold for jazz.

The first of the algorithms Shyamsundar proposes would, essentially, allow that same AI to sort through the entire stack of albums at the same time.

Quantum AI isnt smarter, its just fast and takes advantage of superposition. Where classical AI works in a black box, quantum AI could exploit superposition to operate in many black boxes at once.

Unfortunately, that doesnt mean it comes up with the right answer. When its a yes-or-no question, the odds are good. But when its a question that requires non-Boolean logic, such as rating 100 albums for their jazzyness on a scale of 1-10, even a quantum computer needs a different kind of algorithm.

And thats what the second algorithm does, according to Shyamsundar.

Per a press release from the Fermi lab:

A second algorithm introduced in the paper, dubbed the quantum mean estimation algorithm, allows scientists to estimate the average rating of all the records. In other words, it can assess how jazzy the stack is as a whole.

Both algorithms do away with having to reduce scenarios into computations with only two types of output, and instead allow for a range of outputs to more accurately characterize information with a quantum speedup over classical computing methods.

To be clear, Shyamsundars work has nothing to do with military operations and the Fermi lab, as mentioned, belongs to the DoE (not the DoD). Their paper represents the groundwork towards basic functioning quantum algorithms.

But what is a military AI technology if not an innocuous, basic algorithm persisting?

The problem with todays military logic systems and the one in the movie Wargames is that theyre all based on binary thinking.

You can run a million simulations on advanced military software using cutting-edge AI, but eventually the limitations of pass/fail thinking will reduce almost any conflict into an arms race that ends in either stalemate or mutually-assured destruction.

But, what if the confidence factor for a given military operation didnt rely on binary simulations? The same quantum algorithms that can determine which album in a given stack is a jazz album 10 times faster than a binary system, and how jazzy a given album is, could easily determine which combination of feasible operational strategies would result in the highest overall confidence factor for a military campaign.

In other words, where Sun Tzu was said to be able to envision an entire battle unfolding in front of his eyes before it happened, and modern software such as CMANO can simulate entire operations, a quantum system running simple non-Boolean algorithm solutions should be able to surface strong predictions for the outcome of a multi-step war campaign.

Published April 7, 2021 18:39 UTC

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Quantum computers will win the next world war - The Next Web

Today, our life is so different in comparison to the end of the 20th century. Gone are the days when our mobile phones had small screens, keyboard mounted on the body and was limited to just making calls and messages. Today, we are at a stage where mobile phones are way more powerful than desktop computers. With the advent of technology, we are now all set to embark on a journey to build the next-generation computer. This is exactly where the concept of quantum computers comes into play.

The main idea behind this is to solve problems that classical computing could not. Not one, not two but there seems to be many areas where classical computing seems to have not worked in our favour. Though, we do have some quantum computers in place, they are still unreliable as far as the demands are concerned. Today, we get to see giant market players like IBM, Google, Microsoft, etc. in the race of building the first powerful quantum computer. Though this is an expensive invention, companies are not hesitating from pouring in so much money because they know that the advantages offered last an eternity. Today, the aim is to build a quantum communication system that doesnt communicate bits and bytes, but quantum states that quantum computers can understand. The reason why this is important is because we are in a position to build up a quantum version of the internet.

Quantum AI, in addition to being smart and fast also boasts of an advantage of superposition. Considering the fact that classical AI works in a black box, Quantum AI stands the potential to exploit superposition to operate in many black boxes at once.

That said, how about being prepared for a World War 3 well in advance? It is highly likely that the US takes up every possible step to pre-emptively win World War 3 and before the perceived enemy nations could even react.

As known to all, today the computers employ binary logic to address the yes-or-no questions. But with quantum computers, the scenario will be a lot different. They wouldnt be limited to just yes-or-no questions. Theyll hold the potential to determine the confidence factor for a given operation. A lot is being speculated about the first huge powerful quantum computer that is soon going to make its entry into the world of technology.

One of the researchers at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, a Department of Energy research lab for the US government,Prasanth Shyamsundar described two new types of algorithms that could revolutionize quantum computing. Well, not just this. These algorithms can lead to a quantum brain for military AI systems as well.

He talked about how one of the two algorithms allows the same AI to sort through the entire stack of albums at the same time. The second algorithm can assess how jazzy the stack is as a whole. This algorithm would allow the scientists to estimate the average rating of all the records. In a nutshell, both these algorithms allow for a range of outputs to more accurately characterize information with a quantum speedup contrary to what classical computing methods do. Prasanth Shyamsundars paper represents the groundwork towards basic functioning quantum algorithms.

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The World Awaits the First Powerful Quantum Computer - Analytics Insight

Quantum computing has the ability to transform the world in the near future. Experts have extensively predicted that quantum computers could solve certain kinds of issues much faster than conventional computers, particularly those involving a large number of variables and potential scenarios, such as simulations or optimization concerns.

Quantum computingis a field of research that focuses on developing computational technology based on quantum mechanics concepts, which describes the origin and behavior of matter and energy at the quantum (atomic and subatomic) levels. It has the ability to dramatically increase computational power, ushering in a new age incomputertechnology.

Quantum computers have the capability to revolutionize computing by allowing for the solution of previously unsolvable problems. Although no quantum computer has yet been built to perform calculations that a classical computer cannot, substantial progress is being made. A few large corporations and small start-ups now have working non-error-corrected quantum computers with tens of thousands of qubits, and some of these are also available to the general public through the cloud. Quantum simulators are also making progress in areas as diverse as molecular energetics and many-body physics.

According to IEEE Spectrum,Computer scientists and engineers have started down a roadthat could one day lead to a momentous transition: from deterministic computing systems, based on classical physics, to quantum computing systems, which exploit the weird and wacky probabilistic rules of quantum physics. Many commentators have pointed out that if engineers are able to fashion practical quantum computers, there will be a tectonic shift in the sort of computations that become possible.

But thats a big if.

Probabilistic computing will enable future systemsto understand and function with the uncertainties fundamentalin naturaldata, allowing us to develop computers capable of comprehending, forecasting, and making decisions.

Intel Newsroom mentioned that,Research into probabilistic computing is not a new area of study, but the improvements in high-performance computing and deep learning algorithms may lead probabilistic computing into a new era. In the next few years, we expect that research in probabilistic computing will lead to significant improvements in the reliability, security, serviceability and performance of AI systems, including hardware designed specifically for probabilistic computing. These advancements are critical to deploying applications into the real world from smart homes to smart cities.

To accelerate our work in probabilistic computing, Intel is increasing its research investment in probabilistic computing and we are working with partners to pursue this goal.

Also, Purdue University researchers have announced that they are working on a probabilistic computer that could cross the void between classical and quantum computing to solve issues more efficiently in areas including drug discovery, security and safety, financial services, data processing, and supply chain management.

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Quantum Computing Revolution: Is it the next big thing? - Analytics Insight

In The Office, Ryan Howard bets on Ohios future as the next Silicon Valley: They call it the Silicon Prairie.

It looks like IBMs been binge-watching in quarantine, too: The company just announced a 10-year partnership with the Cleveland Clinic, a nonprofit academic medical center, centered on AI, quantum, and cloud computing.

Heres the plan: Establish the Discovery Accelerator, a research engine using emerging tech to advance healthcare and life sciences. Think: discovering new molecules and expanding knowledge on viral pathogens, treatments, and more.

That engine will be powered, in part, by a quantum computer. IBM plans to release the Q System One in 2023, and the Cleveland Clinic will be the first private-sector organization to buy and operate its own IBM quantum computer. (Right now, they can only be found in the companys own labs and data centers.)

Big picture: Cleveland Clinic gets access to pioneering healthcare research tech, and IBM gets its first major quantum computer sale...and a whole lot of exposure in the healthcare sector. The latter likely tops IBMs pros list after the disappointments of Watson, which made headlines for under-delivering in healthcare AI.

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IBM, Cleveland Clinic Team Up on Quantum Computing and a Healthcare Discovery Accelerator - Morning Brew

ARMONK, N.Y.andCLEVELAND Cleveland Clinicand IBM (NYSE:IBM) have announced a planned 10-year partnership to establish the Discovery Accelerator, a joint effort to advance the pace of discovery in healthcare and life sciences through the use of high performance computing on the hybrid cloud, artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing technologies.

The collaboration is anticipated to build a robust research and clinical infrastructure to empower big data medical research in ethical, privacy preserving ways, discoveries for patient care and novel approaches to public health threats such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the Discovery Accelerator,the researchers plan to use advanced computational technology to generate and analyze data to help enhance research in the newGlobal Center for Pathogen Research & Human Health,in areas such as: genomics, single cell transcriptomics, population health, clinical applications, and chemical and drug discovery.

Through this innovative collaboration, we have a unique opportunity to bring the future to life, saidTom Mihaljevic, M.D., CEO and President of Cleveland Clinic. These new computing technologies can help revolutionize discovery in the life sciences.The Discovery Accelerator will enable our renowned teams to build a forward-looking digital infrastructure and help transform medicine, while training the workforce of the future and potentially growing our economy.

The COVID-19 pandemic has spawned one of the greatest races in the history of scientific discovery one that demands unprecedented agility and speed, saidArvind Krishna, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IBM. At the same time, science is experiencing a change of its own with high performance computing, hybrid cloud, data, AI, and quantum computing, being used in new ways to break through long-standing bottlenecks in scientific discovery. Our new collaboration with Cleveland Clinic will combine their world-renowned expertise in healthcare and life sciences with IBMs next-generation technologies to make scientific discovery faster, and the scope of that discovery larger than ever.

Quantum will make the impossible possible, and whenthe Governor and I announced the Cleveland Innovation District earlier this year, this was the kind of innovative investment I hoped it would advance, said Ohio Lt. GovernorJon Husted, Director of InnovateOhio. A partnership between these two great institutions will putCleveland, andOhio, on the map for advanced medical and scientific research, providing a unique opportunity to improve treatment options for patients and solve some of our greatest healthcare challenges.

The Discovery Accelerator will serve as the technology foundation for Cleveland Clinics newGlobal Center for Pathogen Research & Human Health,announced last month as part of theCleveland Innovation District. The center, supported by a$500 millioninvestment from theState of Ohio, Jobs Ohio and Cleveland Clinic, brings together a research team focused on broadening understanding of viral pathogens, virus-induced cancers, genomics, immunology and immunotherapies. It will build upon Cleveland Clinics existing programs and expertise, with newly recruited world leaders in immunology, cancer biology, immune-oncology and infectious disease research as well as technology development and education. Researchers will expand critical work on studying, preparing and protecting against emerging pathogens and virus-related diseases.

The pace of progress in science historically has been limited by bottlenecks. Researchers are increasingly working to overcome these bottlenecks with the application of AI, quantum computing and hybrid cloud technologies. New technologies are enabling accelerated methods of discovery that include deep search, AI and quantum-enriched simulation, generative models, and cloud-based AI-driven autonomous labs. Leveraging these combined innovations will supercharge new generations of information technology,fuel important advances in science, and IBM will provide access to a variety of research and commercial technologies, education and tools to assist Cleveland Clinic in accelerating discovery in healthcare and life science, includingRoboRXN, a cloud-based platform that combines AI models and robots to help scientists design and synthesize new molecules remotely; theIBM Functional Genomics Platform, a cloud-based repository and research tool, which uses novel approaches to reveal the molecular features in viral and bacterial genomes to help accelerate discovery of molecular targets required for drug design, test development and treatment;Deep Search,which helps researchers access structured and unstructured data quickly; andHigh-Performance Hybrid Cloud Computingtechnologies that can enable researchers to burst their workloads into the cloud and access the resources they need at scale.

Quantum computing has the potential to have an immense impact on key healthcare challenges, such as the discovery of new molecules that can serve as the basis of new pharmaceutical breakthroughs and spur the development of new medicines and could help enhance the ability to derive deep insight from complex data that is at the heart of some of the largest challenges in healthcare.

The Discovery Accelerator will leverage IBMs multi-year roadmap for advancing quantum computing, bringing its revolutionary capabilities into the hands of scientists and practitioners in healthcare and life sciences. In addition to an on-premises quantum system, Cleveland Clinic will also have access to IBMs fleet of currently more than 20 quantum systems, accessible via the cloud. IBM is targeting to unveil its first next generation 1,000+ qubit quantum system in 2023, and Cleveland Clinic is planned to be the site of the first private-sector on-premises system.

A significant pillar of the program plans to focus on educating the workforce of the future and creating jobs to grow the economy. The 10-year collaboration plans to include education and workforce development opportunities related to quantum computing.

The innovative educational curriculum will be designed for participants from high school to professional level and offer training and certification programs in data science and quantum computing, building the skilled workforce needed for cutting-edge data science research of the future. Cleveland Clinic and IBM plan to hold research symposia and workshops with joint sessions by IBM and academic researchersfor academia, industry, government and the general public.

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Cleveland Clinic and IBM Partner on HPC, AI and Quantum Computing - insideHPC

SINGAPORE, April 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd. (OneConnect) the leading technology-as-a-service platform provider and an associate of Ping An Insurance Group, and Singapore Management University (SMU) today announced the key findings from a jointly conducted research on the potential of quantum computing to augment blockchain technology for businesses. The research report has been vetted by the Blockchain Association Singapore (BAS) and the findings were shared at the BAS webinar titled "Enterprise Blockchain in the New Decade" earlier today, moderated by Ms Tan Bin Ru, Co-Chairwoman of BAS, who is also CEO (SEA) of OneConnect Financial Technology.

The findings from this research follow an earlier Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between OneConnect and SMU in 2019 to develop a Proof of Concept (POC) to investigate the characteristics of quantum computing for distributed ledger technologies (DLTs). Co-led by Associate Professor Paul Griffin from SMU School of Computing and Information Systems, the report focused on studying quantum algorithms that could augment blockchain technology in the area of robust large-scale consensus.

While reviewing various types of consensus mechanisms and the suitability of quantum computing in business, the research has shown that the inherent constraints faced by classical DLTs known as the "blockchain trilemma", or the notion of improving all three fundamental attributes of blockchain speed, security and size at once could be broken by quantum technologies, thus increasing potential business usage. For current blockchains, a longer time is required to reach a consensus for highly secure DLTs, and increasing the speed of consensus leads to lower security.

The result findings from the research project include:

Ms Tan Bin Ru shared, "We are excited to be announcing the results and insights gathered from this joint research over the last one year it has indeed been a remarkable journey and a significant milestone that we are sharing with SMU today. Collaborations like these will allow us to better understand and lay the groundwork for the potentialof blockchain technology that can be applied to businesses in the future, such asimproving financing and the under-banked woes. We look forward to continuing long-term partnerships with educational institutes like SMU to potentially expand its usefulness in industry applications."

Associate Professor Paul Griffin, a speaker at the BAS webinar, shared, "It has been a wonderful journey with OneConnect to work on this exciting future-oriented research. The potential for quantum computing is just beginning to be explored and this project has helped to move this forward in a relevant area for the industry. SMU would like to thank all the people involved and look forward to continuing this and other research with OneConnect in the future."

Following the joint research, OneConnect and SMU will continue to forge partnerships in the areas of innovation and building talents for the digital economy.

About OneConnect Financial Technology

OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd. (NYSE: OCFT) is a leading technology-as-a-service platform for financial institutions. The Company's platform provides cloud-native technology solutions that integrate extensive financial services industry expertise with market-leading technology. The Company's solutions provide technology applications and technology-enabled business services to financial institutions. Together they enable the Company's customers' digital transformations, which help them increase revenue, manage risks, improve efficiency, enhance service quality and reduce costs.

The Company's 13 technology solutions strategically cover multiple verticals in the financial services industry, including banking, insurance and asset management, across the full scope of their businesses from sales and marketing and risk management to customer services, as well as technology infrastructures such as data management, program development, and cloud services.

About Singapore Management University

A premier university in Asia, the Singapore Management University (SMU) is internationally recognised for its world-class research and distinguished teaching. Established in 2000, SMU's mission is to generate leading-edge research with global impact and to produce broad-based, creative and entrepreneurial leaders for the knowledge-based economy. SMU's education is known for its highly interactive, collaborative and project-based approach to learning.

Home to over 11,000 students across undergraduate, postgraduate professional and postgraduate research programmes, SMU comprises six schools: School of Accountancy, Lee Kong Chian School of Business, School of Economics, School of Computing and Information Systems, School of Law, and School of Social Sciences. SMU offers a wide range of bachelors', masters', and PhD degree programmes in the disciplinary areas associated with the six schools, as well as in multidisciplinary combinations of these areas.

SMU emphasises rigorous, high-impact, multi- and interdisciplinary research that addresses Asian issues of global relevance. SMU faculty members collaborate with leading international researchers and universities around the world, as well as with partners in the business community and public sector. SMU's city campus is a modern facility located in the heart of downtown Singapore, fostering strategic linkages with business, government and the wider community. http://www.smu.edu.sg

About Blockchain Association Singapore

The Blockchain Association Singapore (BAS) seeks to empower its members and the community to leverage blockchain and scalable technologies for business growth and transformation. The Association is designed to be an effective platform for members to engage with multiple stakeholders - both regional and international - to discover solutions and promote best practices in a collaborative, open, and transparent manner.

It aims to promote blockchain literacy and build a strong talent pipeline for the digital economy in Singapore. BAS also aims to accelerate the development of blockchain companies operating in or entering into Singapore, and their subsequent integration and acceleration into the Singapore blockchain ecosystem.

For more information, please visithttps://singaporeblockchain.org/.

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OneConnect Financial Technology and Singapore Management University announce key findings from joint research on potential for quantum computing to...

Probabilistic computing is one of the excellent ways to deal with the uncertainties in the data

Over the years, the world of technology has been waiting desperately for quantum computing. The fact that still remains is that quantum computers sound great as far as theory is concerned. But building practical machines is concerned with a truck load of hurdles and challenges. On the brighter side, if the engineers are able to successfully step into the world of practical quantum computers, the kind of computations performed would be taken to a different level altogether. Considering these challenges, one of the most remarkable ways that we could employ here is Probabilistic computing. It is one of the excellent ways to deal with the uncertainties in the data.

Experts believe that the technical challenges faced in case of quantum computers are so immense that it is very unlikely that general-purpose quantum computers would become available anytime in the future. Additionally, it might take anywhere between 5 to 10 years or may be even more to bring the first practical general-purpose quantum computers on line. Evidently, it is a huge investment of time. It is because of all the complications and challenges that people are inspired to delve deeper into understanding the importance and role of probability in computing systems. Late physicist Richard Feynman was confident about people accepting this and proceeding with the same about 30 years back. He believed that a probabilistic computer holds the potential to stand as a competition to quantum computers.

The base, needless to say, is a probabilistic bit. Long back, computers used a magnet with two possible directions of magnetization to store a bit. These magnets can be used to implement p-bits. A team had used the similar technique to build a probabilistic computer in 2019 with eight p-bits.

The best part about using unstable magnets as the fundamental building block is that the p-bit can be implemented using a few transistors rather than thousands of them. This feature makes it possible to build larger probabilistic computers.

Talking about the working principle of probabilistic computers, a system of p-bits evolves from an initial to a final state. Obviously, there are could be a considerable number of intermediate states. Each path has a different probability. The surprise element here is that which path is taken by the computer totally depends on the chance. To get the overall probability, you need to add together all the probabilities of all possible paths. In case of a quantum computer, it uses qubits instead of p-bits. Here, the probability is determined by adding the complex amplitudes for all the possible paths between the initial state and the final state.

Simply put, the difference between a probabilistic computer and a quantum computer is that the former adds up the probabilities whereas the latter adds complex probability amplitudes. There is yet another point to note, probabilities are positive numbers less than one whereas the probability amplitudes are complex numbers. Hence, when you add an additional path in case of quantum computing, it can cancel out an existing path. On the other hand, adding an extra path in probabilistic computers can only increase the final probability.

Another point worth noting is that the qubits carry complex amplitudes. These have to be carefully protected from the environment. A lot of attention has to be paid to the temperature thats maintained. All this hassle is eliminated in case of a probabilistic computer as it can be built with simpler technology operating at room temperature.

On the downside, you cannot deal with negative probabilities here. Thisfurther makes it suitable only for those algorithms that do not require path cancellation.

In a nutshell, probabilistic computing is one of the most effective ways to replace quantum computing.

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Know about How to build a Probabilistic Computer and more! - Analytics Insight

Quantum information science is an on-the-rise field that merges quantum mechanics-based conceptsor those that hone in on how things operate at the subatomic levelwith theories on storing, transmitting, computing or measuring information.

Many argue it will lead to unprecedented breakthroughs across major industries, but QIS is still relatively young among other technology areas, and quantum-ready personnel remainrare and in demand.

The numbers that I could find said something like a total few thousand quantum experts worldwide. Worldwide, there is a shortage, Abiodun Ilumoka, a program director in the National Science Foundations Education and Human Resources Directorate told Nextgov recently. In the United States, there is definitely a shortage. And yes, there's definitely a diversity gap: a huge diversity gap.

Passed in late 2018, the National Quantum Initiative Act aims to spur the governments prioritization of this emerging realm. It incorporates federal mandates to help grow the QIS workforce pipeline. Over the last several months, Nextgov spoke to officials across U.S. public, private and academic sectors about the complexities of quantum career paths, and efforts to help deliberately diversify this up-and-coming talent pool on the front end, before the field is fully realized.

We're not talking about something like the world's 25 million classical developers. We're talking about a few thousand to tens of thousandsthats what we're seeing here. So when we say nascent, it really is a nascent technology, IBMs Global Lead of Quantum Education and Open Science Dr. Abe Asfaw noted. And so how do you take that opportunity, then, to build a community from the ground up that is diverse and inclusive?

Momentum Presents Opportunity

The roots of QIS trace back to the 20th century, and the field saw a real surge in the 1990s.

But today, the U.S. is confronting a need for qualified quantum scientists, engineers and technicians. People with such expertise essentially try to use bizarre features of subatomic phenomena and quantum mechanics that dont occur in standard physicslike the notion that a quantum system can exist in multiple states simultaneously until observedto their advantage. They arent united in one specific type of academic degree, though most have some science, technology, engineering and math-, or STEM-aligned expertise.

The way that the field of quantum information science has been approached has been very interdisciplinary, according to Isabella Bello Martinez, a quantum computing researcher at Booz Allen Hamilton. Colleagues on her team have studied biology, chemistry, psychology and more, while her own background includes some focus on engineering and entrepreneurship. In her current role, Martinez is passionate about assessing what quantum computing means nowand what it might mean for the future.

She said specific areas of study or universities attended matter less in hiring than applicants attitudes. Its about being willing to think about a field that is newthat we don't really know how things work, we will never understand how atoms work, probablyand looking to work with that uncertainty, she explained. So, those building quantum-centered teams can pick from a wide range of individuals who have studied different subsets of math and science regardless of their final degree.

However, those fields I'm thinking about, which are mostly physical sciences, are inherently white spaces, Martinez explained, also noting that there arent a lot of women who pursue these areas. She reflected on an experience in a professional setting that struck her personally, to shed a little light on what it can sometimes be like for those less represented in the field.

I was presenting at a conference, talking about what quantum computing is going to mean to the field of communications, Martinez noted. And I had a gentleman come up to me after the talk, and tell me something along the lines of I'm so impressed that a young Latina woman was able to give such a good presentation, or something to that effect. And I was like, OK, we're leaving, and left the conference for the rest of the day. It was awful.

She considers herself lucky to have not encountered the exact same icky situation again since then, but Martinez added, This also wasn't that long ago, and I think its representative of, not even looking at quantum yet, but just looking at physical sciences.

University of Chicagos Associate Professor in Computer Science and Director of Computer Science Education Diana Franklin told Nextgov that she, too, has seen how the technology communities that trickle out of these topics generally have a shortage of people of color and depending on the subject matter, less women.

I have definitely felt [the diversity gap]. I mean, there are very few women in my department and very few females in my classes. The ways that it plays outwell, it's interesting for me because in computer science education, actually that is not male-dominated, Franklin explained. So for me, it's very interesting because I have one community in which I'm normal, and I have another community where I'm very much a minority. And so you can definitely see the difference in just communication patterns and how I'm treated.

While the federal website quantum.gov emerged amid the Trump administration, it doesnt house one updated public source that captures comprehensive data reflecting or forecasting the U.S. quantum workforce. Whats become clear more recently, though, is that STEM disciplines with some of the lowest representation of women contribute to the strongest involvement in QIS.

According to the 2017 NSF Science and Engineering Indicators, women earned a smaller percentage of Bachelors degrees than men in the primary quantum-related disciplines: computer sciences (19%), engineering (22%), mathematics and statistics (42%), and physical sciences (40%), academics who participated in a 2019 symposium regarding the quantum information science and engineering, or QISE, talent pipeline wrote in a subsequent paper. Further, the quantum thinkers said those same indicators suggest students who identify as Hispanic, Latinx, Black or African American account for a much higher percentage of awarded degrees at the Associates level than at the Bachelors degree level.

While the QISE community is still nascent, emphasizing diversity upfront, rather than as an afterthought, is an essential step forward, they wrote.

NSF statistics informed those viewsand officials within that agency are aware of systemic issues around representation apparent in other technological fields seeping into this realm. As they work to help promote a robust channel for future quantum personnel, federal insiders are also making serious considerations around ensuring its more inclusive.

There are very, very few women and minorities in STEM nationwide, NSFs Ilumoka reiterated. Now, if you consider the quantum technologies emergingthen the diversity gap in quantum is even worse.

Ilumokas interests span complex systems design with artificial intelligence and engineering education. She works in NSFs Education and Human Resources directorate, which she noted focuses on getting folks educated in STEM, but also making sure that they're well-prepared for the workplace.

In December, officials in EHR released a Dear Colleague Letter, detailing existing funding opportunities for education-related research and development to prepare a diverse QISE workforce. Ilumoka said the move was meant to inspire NSFs community to craft projects that will inspire and support students interest in the spaceacross many ages and from many backgrounds. Its just one of several moves NSF made last year to help boost Americas quantum workforce, but together, the programs will account for hundreds of millions towardresearch.

Ilumokas colleague Tomasz Durakiewicz, a condensed matter physicist and program director in NSFs Division of Materials Research, noted that the letter came after the agency had been deliberately refocusing and renewing its approaches to education, broadening participation and workforce development. That work enabled officials across NSFs seemingly disparate realmslike physical sciences and educationto connect and share expertise across curriculum development and enable fundamental QIS research.

The quantum enthusiasm and momentum that is now happening in front of our eyes across this nation brings with it unique opportunities, Durakiewicz said. And this is how we want to look at that: There are challenges out there, but every single challenge is an opportunity.

Eyeing Early Exposure

IBMs Abe Asfaw went to high school in Ethiopia and was later trained as an electrical engineer. More recently, he completed a doctorate at Princeton, where he focused on quantum computinga topic Asfaw said he wasnt introduced to until roughly his senior year of college.

A barrier to entry I think, Asfaw noted, is that we haven't rethought our STEM education in a way that makes quantum mechanics an easy thing to learnand it's something you encounter very late.

His industry-based team is now supporting a government-steered effort to help make that happen.

In August, months before dropping the Dear Colleague letter, NSF partnered with the White House to launch the National Q-12 Education Partnership and Q2Work Program. The partnership is meant to bring together public, private and academic experts to ultimately foster the creation of first-of-a-kind materials for K-12 classrooms intended to spark students interests in quantum-aligned career fields while the program helps facilitate the community developing those resources. The entities involved collectively aim to support and grow a quantum workforce that is diverse and equitable, according to the partnerships website.

NSFs Durakiewicz is enthusiastically involved with Q-12 and Q2Work. He explained that they surfaced as the next steps following a virtual workshop the agency hosted earlier last year to produce what would become Key Concepts for Future Quantum Information Science Learners. Hours of heated debates unfolded among various stakeholders, he said, and after it was over, those involved made it very clear that they wanted the collaboration to continue on the path toward implementation. Durakiewicz noted that while the Office of Science and Technology Policy and NSF spearhead the partnership, theyre working jointly with industry partners, teachers and academics through it.

So then you have the full picture here in this project because you have a very strong tie to reality out there down in the trenchesthe industrial types, they know exactly what they need, with teachers who are supposed to deliver that but don't always have the right tools in handand academics who are developing those tools, he explained. And then on top of it, there is OSTP that provides the necessary anchors, so to speak, in this all-of-government approach.

Partners participating will help design and disseminate a foundation for classroom activities and curricula to spur students interest in QIS topics as early as grade school, and broaden access to such studies throughout K-12 education. Q2Work is a coordinating member of the partnership thatll lead the making of digital tools, collaborative exchanges and other outreach to amplify the resources.

University of Chicagos Franklin was tapped to co-lead Q2Work.

This idea that things that happen at the quantum level are so crazy and no one could understand itit's just not true, Franklin said. And so I'm trying to create the resources that connect these things to things you've already figured out in daily life.

She noted that those involved with Q2Work will host workshops to dive deeper into how NSFs foundational concepts for quantum learners might be applied for different audiences, and for students at different grade levels.

I would characterize our effort not as directly interacting with underserved communities and people of color starting outit's that we want to design for them from day one, instead of designing for people who are already successful, Franklin noted. A lot of early computer science outreach activities were people designing for what they wish they had when they were young, which of course, those were the people who already made it in computer science. And if we want to broaden participation, we have to do different types of activities than the ones that you wish you would have. That's been a big challenge to get people to understand in computer science. And so for quantum, we want to start with that.

Speaking from experience, Booz Allen Hamiltons Martinez said its very good that there is going to be a concerted unifying effort to increase early education in quantum topics. She recalled referencing being taught about the electron model of an atom in grade school in a recent conversation with a male colleague, whod responded that he wasnt introduced to the subject until college.

So that's the kicker, right? I went to a private school, Martinez noted, adding that her teachers empowered female students from an early age. She had access to and was placed into advanced classes, and had a support system and resources to pursue her interests.

And that is, by far, not the normal experience for someone whose parents are immigrants from Latin America, or someone who is Black growing up in a rural community, or even just communities that are poor, like Rust Belt communities, or communities in the Appalachian that don't have access to those resources, she said. And clearly, it didn't bother [my colleague] that he did not learn about quantum until undergrad. Clearly, it captivated his imagination. But I imagine that he had people telling him You are smart, you should pursue science, as a childthe same way I did.

To Martinez, children likely wont dwell on complicated topics unless they have an inherent interest in them or someone encourages them, and teachers in many of these communities are already too overburdened to learn such weedy topics independently.

So this is cool, this needs to be doneit can go further, she said. Like I would like to see, once this curriculum gets developed a bit more, very deliberate partnerships with the teachers to give them the time, the funds and the support that they need in order to give their students support that they need.

Theres More

Among the Q2Work programs various founding members was IBM. The company for years now has been rolling out quantum-centered educational activities that incorporate device access and events like hackathons to inspire its next generation of workers. Officials released an open-source quantum software platform known as Qiskit, and the Qiskit Textbook and Qiskit Global Summer School to help outsiders learn quantum computation using it. Those are essentially a collection of tools that allow almost anyone to write and run programs on quantum computers.

The goal of all these open-source efforts is to work with the community to build everythingincluding the quantum computing software and the educational materials. I am seeing 16-year-olds contributing to our open-source quantum computing textbook and just wondering how much times have changed because these resources were not accessible to me at that time, Asfaw said. And so that's one of the things that makes all of this education work rewarding is seeing things like that.

On top of other pursuits, the company aims to make its Quantum Educators program, which provides teachers and their students with prioritized use of IBM quantum systems via the cloud, available to K-12 schools through Q2Work.

It's one of these situations where the interests of the industry align with what I consider to be good for the world. So good for the world, I would consider it to be everyone is equipped and ready to do quantum computing and has access to quantum computers. The interest of the industry would be to see more people exploring the field and coming up with applications for quantum computing, Asfaw said. Both of them are aligned here, and we have a pretty good opportunity to make sure that we build this nascent technology from the ground up while being inclusive to everyone.

Beyond Q-12 and Q2Work, NSF, IBM and other major science players are also supporting some historically Black colleges and universities to expand students exposure and access to quantum opportunities, and embarking on other pursuits to meet this national initiative.

Imagine this fast train that is zooming through the countrythis is a quantum train. Everyone who wants a ticket should be able to get a ticket on this train to benefit from this revolution, NSFs Durakiewicz said. And inclusion here, it's not an obligation, it is an opportunity to do the right thing. If we fail in broadening participation in quantum, we will fail in quantumperiod. We cannot afford that.

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Officials Aim to Diversify the U.S. Quantum Workforce Early On - Nextgov