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Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology

Jeff Kagan: Why quantum and AI are the new growth wave, Part 2

Jeff Kagan: Why quantum and AI are the new growth wave, Part 2

Second of 2 parts

Read Part 1

Quantum computers and quantum technology can think in every direction at the same time. This has the power and the potential to change and improve everything. This new technology is very disruptive.

As an example, imagine at the molecular scale, a neutron circles an electron. This holds everything together and in place.

Quantum physics says when we are looking at this, we see the neutrons spinning around the electron; however, when we are not looking at it, sometimes the neutrons disappear and reappear. Where did they go and what does that mean?

The theory says these disappearing bits move between different universes. Parallel universes to be exact. In fact, many of them. How many? Who really knows.

Now imagine how that could both increase the speed and dimension of the results we come up with. Reducing the time, it takes to get an answer from countless years to mere minutes. I know, this sounds like a sci-fi Hollywood movie, but it is real. And we are just in the opening scene of this new movie.

A question I have is how the heck are ordinary people supposed to wrap their mind around such far-flung thoughts? This is one key question among quite a few all at this early stage.

Quantum and AI drive competition

Remember IBM Watson?. Introduced during the TV game show Jeopardy in 2011, Watson exploded onto the scene with growth both in size and influence. Since at its peak around 2016, though, IBM Watson has faded.

However, AI and quantum have continued to move forward. Today, AI is working its way into every aspect of our lives. Nvidia NVDA has exploded onto the scene with their AI and quantum computer chips. Today OpenAI developed and released ChatGPT. Plus, much more on a regular basis.

Jeff Kagan: Why quantum and AI are the new growth wave, Part 2
IBM illustration

And IBM Watson IBM is rejoining the conversation. They call it WatsonX.

This means we will likely see multiple companies competing in this space. Already there are countless companies moving into quantum and AI. Companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Google with Willow, IBM Watson, Intel, NVIDIA, D-Wave Systems and more. And the list continues to grow.

Over time, I have learned there are a few real experts in AI and quantum physics. People who are taking one step forward at a time in the development of these new technologies in an uncertain world around them.

However, there are not enough. Companies need more. Many more. The marketplace needs thinkers who can help everyone better understand. Today, years after the Watson debut, I do understand much more. Still, there is quite a long way to go for all of us to go.

We must change our way of thinking. Expand our ability to understand reality. We must wrap our minds around these new ideas and ways to think. This will take a while to bring the world along with us. But that’s our responsibility. We must teach everyone of what is coming next… as if we really know.

The rules we were all taught when we were young were only one dimensional in what is becoming a multidimensional reality.

Parallel universes are part of the quantum world

Quantum and AI say there are many different dimensions all operating at the same moment. This is both very exciting and also very confusing. Lack of clear understanding is a weak link. That’s where we are today. However, as time passes, we will continue to understand more and more.

Remember the BlackBerry smartphone changing over to the iPhone and Android. Who knew what apps were back then. I gave speeches 30 years ago and called this the Information Superhighway which we all use today. Eventually we learned.

That being said, as time passes, quantum, AI and other new technology will continue to grow, to teach itself, to create new awareness and new angles and hopefully to improve our world and our lives.

Do you feel a bit lost? Join the club. So do I.

This new world and new thinking is happening to everyone. That’s part of the excitement of the moment. We will get used to AI and quantum the same way we got used to the Information Superhighway.

In fact, most people are beginning to think as time passes, things no longer make sense. This is all brand new. But it is happening and the change we must wrap our minds around will only increase in speed and intensity.

That being said, we cannot ignore the future. We will just have to continue to learn as we move forward.

Read more Jeff Kagan: Why cable TV’s struggle is a self-fulfilling prophecy

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