00:04So, professor, let's talk a little bit about quantum in the daily lives of people.
00:13You teach quantum at Duke University, you founded IonQ, you co-founded IonQ,
00:22so you know both the academic and the practical side of things.
00:27One thing that is not so clear for people that are imagining a quantum future is when they
00:36will be able to feel the difference and maybe also the role that the end user will have when
00:45we talk about quantum.
00:48Yes, if you make an analogy, I feel like quantum computing today is where computers, traditional
00:54computers were in 1960.
00:56In 1960s, there are companies building these mainframe computers of sophisticated machines
01:02capable of doing incredible computations, but they were used only by experts and not regular
01:09people.
01:10It took many decades before people could own their own computers, first desktop computers
01:17and eventually we all carry in our pockets today.
01:19So, in my mind, we actually have to develop a very large number of devices that can eventually
01:27be deployed at a relatively low cost before people can actually see it.
01:33But I do believe that it's going to happen faster than for traditional computers because
01:40we actually have much bigger and more substantial infrastructure to build the quantum computer
01:46industry.
01:47So, I think it's going to go faster.
01:49But when you ask the questions about can a layperson use quantum computers on a day-to-day
01:55basis, I think that will take some time.
01:57Yeah.
01:58But we've been talking about post-quantum cryptography.
02:02We've been talking about sensing.
02:04We've been talking about use cases that have a direct effect on the daily life of people.
02:13And so, do you think that there is, first of all, there is already a market for this?
02:19Is there, because companies are already, you know, basically calling companies in the field
02:29to ask for an upgrade on their technological stack?
02:35Yes.
02:35You know, I think the fact that a layperson doesn't feel it every day doesn't mean that there is
02:40no market.
02:41Certainly in the 50s and 60s, there were a market for these mainframe computers by the
02:46governments and big corporations and so on.
02:49And you know, when we think about communication, we can actually very easily access data from
02:55anywhere in the world today, thanks to fiber optic communications.
03:00But that, I don't think people appreciate the infrastructure that actually makes that happen.
03:05So, I think when I, when you say when everybody, like a layperson feels it, you got to have
03:10it in your hands to actually feel that it's real.
03:14In the infrastructure, you can actually use it every day.
03:17You can use it every day and still don't appreciate that the technology behind that is quantum.
03:23So, from that perspective, absolutely.
03:26There is real world market that will happen a lot sooner.
03:30And you know, there are companies who are building quantum computers and people are deploying
03:35those things.
03:36But when it comes to like a layperson feeling it on a daily basis, that's when I think it's
03:42going to take some time.
03:43We need a much more massive scale deployment.
03:45So, you know, coming from the US, what is your perspective on European market and European
03:53sector of quantum?
03:54Do you think that this is a field in which Europe can have its voice, can play its game?
04:01Absolutely.
04:02You know, if you go back in the history of quantum physics, it was born in Europe.
04:09All of the early foundation of quantum physics in the last century were built out of Europe.
04:18Now, having said that, so I think the knowledge and the expertise and the talent is here.
04:24The real question is how do you actually take that basic science and turn it into something
04:29that is impactful?
04:32And that translation is not just science, but it actually requires business development
04:39and entrepreneurship and then the actual technology development to go get it done.
04:43So it is really that combination of opportunity that will be needed.
04:48But the way that the European governments and technical leaders are making the right investment,
04:55a lot of the activities are happening already.
04:57So absolutely, I think it's a bit of a foot race right now.
05:01I think there are many very promising European players and companies that are very well in the
05:08race.
05:08Thank you.
05:09Thank you very much.
05:10All right.
05:10Thank you.
05:10Thank you.
05:10Thank you.
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