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Its a very modern conjurers trick: Create a SXSW talk out of thin air, with the help of generative AI. Thats what whurley did this year in Austin.

It took nine weeks for whurley a staple of the Austin tech scene to create and prepare for a keynote at SXSW 2018, where he would debut Strangeworks, a quantum computing startup he co-founded and runs. Five years later, generative AI would complete the task in just a few hours.

And it was actually pretty good. The 45-minute speech was comprehensive, interesting and struck a whurley-like tone. There was one swear word (fuck) and a few jokes (including two lawyer ones) that the audience laughed at. It seemed that the trickiest part, at least while he was on stage, was reading the script the AI had provided off of his tablet. (Whurley is known for his free-wheeling style on the SXSW stage, where he is a regular.)

The kicker? He waited until the end to deliver the punchline.

Everything today from the slides to the speech Im reading now is created by generative AI, he said onstage before launching into the how and why of it all. A buzz of whispers, wows and chuckles spread through the room filled with hundreds of SXSW attendees.

Strangeworks might just be the first startup to tap generative AI for all of its on and off stage content at SXSW. And while its a novel and fun demonstration, the experiment also illustrates the flexibility of AI tools and its growing popularity.

Why bother? Exposure and education, whurley told TechCrunch this week after the event.

We are on the verge of the greatest period of technological advances in the history of mankind. I feel people are not only not ready for this, theyre not even aware its happening. I wanted to put a spotlight on it, he said. Were going to see more changes in the next decade than we have in the past 100 years. People can naysay it all they want, but the technological change about to occur can not be stopped. The convergence of quantum computing and AI will be a step function, if not several step functions, for scientific discovery and advancement.

The experiment started as many do with a limited scope. Whurley used generative AI back in October 2022 to write a description for his SXSW talk entitled Quantum AI: Why Your Future Depends on Quantum Computing & Artificial Intelligence. And no he didnt tell SXSW organizers.

This all started with a prompt, he said while onstage. I said write a South by Southwest abstract of 800 words. Heres the concept, heres a title I gave it and a few points and everything you saw on South by Southwest website was created by ChatGPT. And I submitted it.

ChatGPT is the image- and text-understanding AI model powered by GPT 3.5 and developed by OpenAI. A new version of the underlying engine, GPT-4, was released March 14.

His prompt was:

Write an 800 word abstract for a SXSW keynote for a session called QuantumAI: Why your future depends on the convergence of Quantum Computing & Artificial Intelligence in which the speaker discusses the advances in quantum computing and artificial intelligence, the challenges facing our species, and the inevitable convergence that may lead to a quantum super intelligence that will forever change our world.

Just days before the SXSW featured session, whurley decided to take it further. He asked the AI to use the abstract to create an outline of what the presentation might look like. After a few tweaks (or reprompting as he calls it), the outline met his approval.

His prompt:

This is great, I need to come up with enough slides to discuss this topic for an hour. Can you suggest what a potential out line for a 1 hour talk on this would be?

Whurley shared it with his team at Strangeworks and collectively they decided to go all in. At that point, I told them the plan was to start on everything needed for the keynote tomorrow at 11:30 a.m., he told TechCrunch.

Strangeworks creative team Casey Barthels, Nicole Majeske and Ada Onyiukeused Midjourney, an AI generative art tool, to make the slides and graphics for the presentation. And then they upped the ante again by having Midjourney create the story and graphics in a seven-page printed publication featuring the Strangeworks mascot Schrody Cat. The publication was handed out to attendees.

And then the night before last, I thought if did an outline, the abstract and all the slides, why cant we just put words in my mouth too? he said. Whurley took all of his previous prompts and fed it into GPT-4, which had been released Tuesday.

In other words, what would become the final script, graphics and slides were created the morning of the keynote. And they cut it close. As we pulled into the hotel at almost 11 am on the dot, I took the final version of the script and cut and pasted it into the teleprompter software I had downloaded to my iPad, he wrote to TechCrunch in a text following the event.

Its certainly the biggest risk Ive ever taken at SXSW, he said.

The generative AI was also used to create whurleys personal website, which debuted Wednesday, featuring hundreds of blogs in whurleys voice. He worked with collaborator David Hudson of Big Human on the blog project.

Those blogs were deleted to make way for another project that launched Thursday. The Strangeworks CEO ran the prompt through ChatGPT again, this time asking it to publish the website and blogs in 10 languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Italian and Arabic.

Whurley said the response has been overwhelmingly positive. He noted that a few people who are anti AI/technology have made snide comments or veiled threats via social media, but again the detractors are few and far between.

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Strangeworks might be the first startup to rely on AI to create everything it brought to SXSW - TechCrunch

Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai

Hype surrounding the rise of ChatGPT and the supposed ground Google is losing to Microsoft and OpenAI in the search wars has overshadowed more important developments in computing, progress which will have far greater implications than which website serves up better tax advice.

Quantum computing is the holy grail of scientists and researchers, but its still decades away from reality. Googles parent company, Alphabet, however moved the ball down the field last month with news that it found ways to ameliorate one of the biggest problems facing the nascent field: accuracy.

To date, all computing is done on a binary scale. A piece of information is stored as either one or zero, and these binary units (bits) are clumped together for further calculation. We need four bits to store the number eight (1000 in binary), for example. Its slow and clunky, but at least its simple and accurate. Silicon chips have been holding and processing bits for almost seven decades.

Quantum bits qubits can store data in more than two forms (it can be both 1 and 0 at the same time). That means larger chunks of information can be processed in a given amount of time. Among the many downsides is that the physical manifestation of a qubit requires super-cold temperatures just above zero degrees Kelvin and are susceptible to even the minutest amount of interference such as light. Theyre also error prone, which is a big problem in computing.

In a paper published in Nature last month, Google claims to have made a huge breakthrough in an important sub-field called quantum error correction. Their approach is quite simple. Instead of relying on individual physical qubits, scientists store information across many physical qubits but then view this collection as a single one (called a logical qubit).

Google had theorised that clumping a larger number of physical qubits to form a single logical qubit would reduce error rate. In its research paper, outlined in a blog post by CEO Sundar Pichai, the team found that a logical qubit formed from 49 physical qubits did indeed outperform one comprised of 17.

In reality, dedicating 49 qubits to the handling of just a single logical one sounds inefficient and even overkill. Imagine storing your photos on 49 hard drives just to ensure that, collectively, a single hard drive is error free. But given the vast potential of quantum computing, even such baby steps amount to significant progress.

More importantly, it gives the broader scientific community a basis from which to build on this knowledge to further advance related fields including materials science, mathematics and electrical engineering which will all be needed to make an actual quantum computer reality. The hope of building a system that can solve a problem which no current machine could feasibly manage is called quantum supremacy.

Four years ago, Google said it completed a test in 200 seconds for a task that would take a conventional supercomputer thousands of years, proof that were on the path to quantum supremacy.

But like artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT, proving they work is only one part of the puzzle. High accuracy and low error rates something recent chatbots are prone to remain elusive. Improvement on this front is a major goal for developers of both technologies, with OpenAI this week saying its new GPT-4 is 40% more likely to produce factual results than its predecessor.

Unfortunately, a supercooled computer crunching data isnt as fun as a digital assistant that can write limericks or draft a school essay. But in future these breakthroughs will be as comparable as the entertainment value of television versus the world-changing feat of landing a human on the moon. (c) 2023 Bloomberg LP

Feasible is a nebulous term, but generally means completion in a reasonable amount of time such as minutes or days, instead of years.

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Google is making breakthroughs much bigger than AI - TechCentral - TechCentral

A Quantum Leap into the Future

Hello, amazing people!

Are you ready to venture into the awe-inspiring world of quantum computing?

I can hardly contain my excitement as we explore this groundbreaking technology that has the potential to revolutionize how we approach complex problems.

So, buckle up and hold onto your hats, because were about to embark on a fantastic journey through the quantum realm!

You might be wondering, What on Earth is quantum computing, and why should I care?

Great question!

Quantum computing is an entirely new paradigm in computing that leverages the mind-bending principles of quantum mechanics to perform complex calculations at breakneck speeds.

These superpowered computers have the potential to dwarf even the most powerful supercomputers we know today.

From cryptography to drug discovery, quantum computing promises to reshape countless industries and unlock solutions to problems that were once considered unsolvable.

In classical computing, we deal with bits the fundamental units of information that represent either a 0 or a 1.

But in the world of quantum computing, we have qubits, which take things to a whole new level!

Qubits, short for quantum bits, can exist in a state of superposition, meaning they can represent both 0 and 1 simultaneously.

Sounds like science fiction, right?

But wait, theres more!

Thanks to a quantum phenomenon called entanglement, qubits can become inextricably linked, allowing them to share information instantly, no matter the distance between them.

Its like having a psychic connection between particles!

These unique properties of qubits enable quantum computers to perform multiple calculations at once, making them incredibly powerful and efficient.

Now that weve got a grasp on the fundamentals, lets dive into some of the jaw-dropping applications of quantum computing that are set to change the world as we know it.

Cryptography is the backbone of secure communication on the internet. One of the most widely-used cryptographic techniques is RSA encryption, which relies on the difficulty of factoring large prime numbers.

But what if I told you that quantum computers could crack this seemingly unbreakable code in the blink of an eye?

Enter Shors algorithm a quantum algorithm that can factor large numbers exponentially faster than the best-known classical algorithms.

With the advent of powerful quantum computers, we might need to rethink our encryption methods to keep our data safe.

But dont worry!

Quantum computing can also be our saviour, as it offers new ways to secure our communication, like quantum key distribution. Its like an arms race, but with qubits!

The process of drug discovery is incredibly complex and time-consuming, involving the analysis of countless molecular interactions.

But what if we could harness the power of quantum computing to speed up this process and revolutionize healthcare?

Quantum computers have the potential to simulate and analyze molecular structures with unprecedented accuracy, paving the way for the discovery of new drugs and personalized medicine.

By unlocking a deeper understanding of how molecules interact, we could develop more effective treatments for various diseases, including cancer and Alzheimers.

The possibilities are truly mind-blowing!

The Earths climate is an incredibly complex system, and predicting its behaviour is no easy feat. Classical computers struggle to model all the intricate variables and feedback loops involved.

But quantum computers, with their parallel processing capabilities, can take on this massive challenge!

With more accurate climate models, we can better understand the impacts of human activities on our planet and develop more effective strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Quantum computing might just be the key to unlocking a sustainable future for generations to come.

The race to build the worlds most powerful quantum computer is heating up, with countries and tech giants vying for quantum supremacy.

The United States, China, and Europe are all investing heavily in quantum research, while companies like IBM, Google, and Microsoft are developing cutting-edge quantum technologies.

In 2019, Google claimed to have achieved quantum supremacy with their 53-qubit quantum computer, Sycamore, which reportedly solved a problem in just 200 seconds that would have taken a classical supercomputer 10,000 years to crack.

While some experts debated the significance of this milestone, its clear that were getting closer to the era of practical quantum computing.

But its not just tech giants in the race.

Innovative startups like Rigetti Computing, IonQ, and D-Wave are also pushing the boundaries of quantum technology, exploring new architectures and methods to build scalable quantum computers.

As exciting as quantum computing is, its essential to acknowledge that we still have some hurdles to overcome before these powerful machines become a practical reality.

One of the main challenges is to build stable and error-free qubits that can maintain their quantum states for extended periods.

This is because qubits are highly susceptible to environmental noise and decoherence, which can cause errors in calculations.

Researchers are experimenting with various approaches to tackle this issue, such as using error-correcting codes, developing new materials for qubits, and exploring different qubit architectures like topological qubits and trapped ions.

Another challenge is developing efficient quantum algorithms and software that can effectively leverage the power of quantum hardware. As quantum computing is still in its infancy, theres a lot to learn and discover about how to create and optimize quantum programs.

The age of quantum computing is just around the corner, and businesses, governments, and individuals must prepare for the impact of this revolutionary technology.

Industries will need to adapt and develop strategies to harness the power of quantum computers and protect themselves from potential threats like quantum cryptography attacks.

For individuals, especially aspiring tech enthusiasts like you and me, now are the perfect time to dive into the world of quantum computing, learn the fundamentals, and even start experimenting with quantum programming languages like Q# and Qiskit.

Theres no denying that quantum computing has the potential to reshape our world and unlock solutions to some of the most complex challenges we face today.

From cryptography to drug discovery, climate modelling to artificial intelligence, the possibilities are truly mind-blowing.

While we still have obstacles to overcome, the progress made in recent years is nothing short of astonishing. And as we venture deeper into the quantum realm, we can only imagine what breathtaking innovations and discoveries lie ahead.

So, strap in and accompany me as we venture into the future, one qubit at a time!

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Quantum Computing: Unleashing the Power of the Future, One ... - DataDrivenInvestor

Research using a quantum computer as the physical platform for quantum experiments has found a way to design and characterize tailor-made magnetic objects using quantum bits, or qubits. That opens up a new approach to develop new materials and robust quantum computing.

"With the help of a quantum annealer, we demonstrated a new way to pattern magnetic states," said Alejandro Lopez-Bezanilla, a virtual experimentalist in the Theoretical Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Lopez-Bezanilla is the corresponding author of a paper about the research in Science Advances.

"We showed that a magnetic quasicrystal lattice can host states that go beyond the zero and one bit states of classical information technology," Lopez-Bezanilla said. "By applying a magnetic field to a finite set of spins, we can morph the magnetic landscape of a quasicrystal object."

"A quasicrystal is a structure composed by the repetition of some basic shapes following rules different to those of regular crystals," he said.

For this work with Cristiano Nisoli, a theoretical physicist also at Los Alamos, a D-Wave quantum annealing computer served as the platform to conduct actual physical experiments on quasicrystals, rather than modeling them. This approach "lets matter talk to you," Lopez-Bezanilla said, "because instead of running computer codes, we go straight to the quantum platform and set all the physical interactions at will."

The ups and downs of qubits

Lopez-Bezanilla selected 201 qubits on the D-Wave computer and coupled them to each other to reproduce the shape of a Penrose quasicrystal.

Since Roger Penrose in the 1970s conceived the aperiodic structures named after him, no one had put a spin on each of their nodes to observe their behavior under the action of a magnetic field.

"I connected the qubits so all together they reproduced the geometry of one of his quasicrystals, the so-called P3," Lopez-Bezanilla said. "To my surprise, I observed that applying specific external magnetic fields on the structure made some qubits exhibit both up and down orientations with the same probability, which leads the P3 quasicrystal to adopt a rich variety of magnetic shapes."

Manipulating the interaction strength between qubits and the qubits with the external field causes the quasicrystals to settle into different magnetic arrangements, offering the prospect of encoding more than one bit of information in a single object.

Some of these configurations exhibit no precise ordering of the qubits' orientation.

"This can play in our favor," Lopez-Bezanilla said, "because they could potentially host a quantum quasiparticle of interest for information science." A spin quasiparticle is able to carry information immune to external noise.

A quasiparticle is a convenient way to describe the collective behavior of a group of basic elements. Properties such as mass and charge can be ascribed to several spins moving as if they were one.

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Qubits put new spin on magnetism: Boosting applications of ... - Science Daily

Practical carbon capture technologies are still in the early stages of development, with the most promising involving a class of compounds called amines that can chemically bind with carbon dioxide. In AVS Quantum Science, researchers deploy an algorithm to study amine reactions through quantum computing. An existing quantum computer cab run the algorithm to find useful amine compounds for carbon capture more quickly, analyzing larger molecules and more complex reactions than a traditional computer can.

The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases daily with no sign of stopping or slowing. Too much of civilization depends on the burning of fossil fuels, and even if we can develop a replacement energy source, much of the damage has already been done. Without removal, the carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere will continue to wreak havoc for centuries.

Atmospheric carbon capture is a potential remedy to this problem. It would pull carbon dioxide out of the air and store it permanently to reverse the effects of climate change. Practical carbon capture technologies are still in the early stages of development, with the most promising involving a class of compounds called amines that can chemically bind with carbon dioxide. Efficiency is paramount in these designs, and identifying even slightly better compounds could lead to the capture of billions of tons of additional carbon dioxide.

In AVS Quantum Science, by AIP Publishing, researchers from the National Energy Technology Laboratory and the University of Kentucky deployed an algorithm to study amine reactions through quantum computing. The algorithm can be run on an existing quantum computer to find useful amine compounds for carbon capture more quickly.

"We are not satisfied with the current amine molecules that we use for this [carbon capture] process," said author Qing Shao. "We can try to find a new molecule to do it, but if we want to test it using classical computing resources, it will be a very expensive calculation. Our hope is to have a fast algorithm that can screen thousands of new molecules and structures."

Any computer algorithm that simulates a chemical reaction needs to account for the interactions between every pair of atoms involved. Even a simple three-atom molecule like carbon dioxide bonding with the simplest amine, ammonia, which has four atoms, results in hundreds of atomic interactions. This problem vexes traditional computers but is exactly the sort of question at which quantum computers excel.

However, quantum computers are still a developing technology and are not powerful enough to handle these kinds of simulations directly. This is where the group's algorithm comes in: It allows existing quantum computers to analyze larger molecules and more complex reactions, which is vital for practical applications in fields like carbon capture.

"We are trying to use the current quantum computing technology to solve a practical environmental problem," said author Yuhua Duan.

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Cleaning up the atmosphere with quantum computing: A quantum ... - Science Daily