The Quantum Pod

Recently, Zapata AI, BMW, and MIT's Center for Quantum Engineering collaborated to solve a complex problem: how can you most efficiently schedule vehicle production? This problem needs to take into account many many variables, so how did the team optimize the process? With AI of course! Listen to this episode to find out more about how exactly they did and what results they found.

My two hand-picked episodes for you:

1. https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thequantumpod/episodes/Yudong-Cao-and-Quantum-Generative-AI---Episode-11-e206uia/a-a9fihof
2. https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thequantumpod/episodes/Alejandro-Perdomo-Ortiz--Yudong-Cao--and-Quantum-Optimization-in-the-Real-World---Episode-4-e14tfk1/a-a66sd56

More recommended resources:

• How We Harness Industrial Generative AI for Optimization: https://zapata.ai/industrial-generative-ai-for-optimization/
• Synergy Between Quantum Circuits and Tensor Networks: Short-cutting the Race to Practical Quantum Advantage: https://zapata.ai/publications/synergy-between-quantum-circuits-and-tensor-networks-short-cutting-the-race-to-practical-quantum-advantage/
• Zapata, BMW and MIT’s The Center for Quantum Engineering Publish Research On Optimizing Vehicle Production Planning Using Quantum-Inspired Generative AI Techniques: https://zapata.ai/news/bmw-optimizes-vehicle-production-planning-using-quantum-inspired-generative-ai-techniques/

Intro/Outro music: Oblivious by Nihilore (⁠https://www.nihilore.com/synthwave⁠)

Nihilore license: ⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode⁠

Follow us on Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/zapatacomputing⁠

Follow us on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/zapata-ai

The Quantum Pod is produced by ⁠Zapata AI

Host: ⁠Ethan Hansen⁠

Guests: ⁠Shima Bab Hadiashar, Will Banner, and Marcin Ziolkowski

Editing: ⁠Ethan Hansen⁠

Special thanks to: ⁠Mick Emmett and Rob Kerstens

Large, generative machine learning models are almost everywhere today, but sometimes they run into some trouble. In today's episode Yudong Cao joins us to talk about how generative AI can be used for more than just toy problems, what business use cases will benefit from it, and how quantum computing ties in. Plus, we dive into synthetic data and tensor networks!

The Near-term Promise of Quantum Generative AI: https://www.zapatacomputing.com/the-near-term-promise-of-quantum-generative-ai/

Where We Are -- and Are Not -- With Quantum Computing: https://www.zapatacomputing.com/where-we-are-and-are-not-with-quantum-computing/

Generative AI is here: How tools like ChatGPT could change your business: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insights/generative-ai-is-here-how-tools-like-chatgpt-could-change-your-business

Generative AI: A Creative New World: https://www.sequoiacap.com/article/generative-ai-a-creative-new-world/

Generative AI: The Next Consumer Platform: https://a16z.com/2023/02/07/everyday-ai-consumer/

Intro/Outro music: Oblivious by Nihilore (https://www.nihilore.com/synthwave)

Nihilore license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zapatacomputing

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zapata-computing

The Quantum Pod is produced by Zapata Computing

Host: Ethan Hansen

Guest: Yudong Cao

Editing: Ethan Hansen

Special thanks to: Mick Emmett

Quantum computing is an incredibly complex industry, how can someone possibly attempt to understand where the current state is and where it’s heading? Using data! That’s exactly what Bob Sorensen does as Chief Analyst for Quantum Computing at Hyperion Research. In his analysis he views quantum computing through the lens of high performance computing, drawing parallels and illuminating differences.

The survey of 415 decision makers Bob mentioned: https://www.dwavesys.com/media/an1helvq/hyperion_report_v2.pdf

Hyperion’s research predicting the growth of the quantum computing industry: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-study-estimates-more-than-20-percent-annual-growth-of-global-quantum-computing-marketplace-through-2024-301475790.html

Zapata’s own enterprise decision maker survey: https://www.zapatacomputing.com/enterprise-survey/

HPC Wire’s piece on Nvidia, HPC, and quantum with Tim Hirzel: https://www.hpcwire.com/2022/07/28/zapatas-orquestra-targets-the-hybrid-quantum-classical-challenge/

Intro/Outro music: Oblivious by Nihilore (https://www.nihilore.com/synthwave)

Nihilore license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zapatacomputing

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zapata-computing

The Quantum Pod is produced by Zapata Computing

Host: Ethan Hansen

Guest: Bob Sorensen

Editing and commentary: Ethan Hansen

Special thanks to: Mick Emmett, Katherine Londergan, and Liz St. Pierre

When it comes to major disruptive technologies like AI, data analytics, and quantum computing, many companies are playing to not lose. That’s fine, but if like us at Zapata you want to play to win, you have to realize that waiting is not an action. Andy Walter knows that with his extensive experience in corporate IT evolution and digital transformation from the last 3 decades. Now he has a book by the same title – Waiting Is Not An Action. If playing to win sounds more appealing than playing to not lose, this is the episode for you.

Please fill out The Quantum Pod listener survey! https://forms.office.com/r/APZWp55NQ0

Quantum Computing Now episode with Christopher Savoie: https://anchor.fm/quantumcomputingnow/episodes/Dr--Christopher-Savoie-and-Life-Sciences--Episode-22-Hybrid-ekasji

Learn more about Orquestra: https://www.orquestra.io/

Quantum computing patents filed report from QED-C: https://quantumconsortium.org/blog/trends-in-quantum-computing-patents/

Racecar sound is from Nascar-TMS-1998.mp3 by FreqMan

Intro/Outro music: Oblivious by Nihilore (https://www.nihilore.com/synthwave)

Nihilore license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zapatacomputing

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zapata-computing

The Quantum Pod is produced by Zapata Computing

Host: Ethan Hansen

Guest: Andy Walter

Editing and commentary: Ethan Hansen

Special thanks to: Mick Emmett and Katherine Londergan

The combination of quantum computing and security gets really complicated, really fast. Two of Zapata’s founders break down the basic types of quantum security methods, the different ways quantum will impact security at the enterprise level, and list some reasons why the time to start preparing for this next level of security innovation is now.

Quantum Security Blog post: https://www.zapatacomputing.com/quantum-cryptography
Silicon Quantum Computing Startup in Australia: https://www.itnews.com.au/news/sydney-quantum-computing-startup-splits-into-two-companies-579783
Variational Quantum Factoring: https://www.zapatacomputing.com/publications/variational-quantum-factoring/
The Density Functional Theory: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Density_functional_theory
Rainbow broken on a laptop: https://medium.com/cambridge-quantum-computing/what-does-the-breaking-of-rainbow-mean-for-cybersecurity-21b125383cab
QED-C's Guide to a Quantum Safe Organization: https://btq.li/en/blog/nist-update
Paper with IBM benchmarking VQF: https://www.zapatacomputing.com/publications/analyzing-the-performance-of-variational-quantum-factoring-on-a-superconducting-quantum-processor/
DARPA award for quantum benchmarking: https://www.zapatacomputing.com/news/zapata-darpa-award/

Intro/Outro music: Oblivious by Nihilore (https://www.nihilore.com/synthwave)
Nihilore license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zapatacomputing
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zapata-computing
The Quantum Pod is produced by Zapata Computing
Host: Ethan Hansen
Guests: Christopher Savoie and Jonathan Olson
Editing and commentary: Ethan Hansen
Special thanks to: Mick Emmett and Rob Kerstens

In this episode Jen Houston, Chief Marketing Officer of D-wave, honestly assesses where we are with quantum technology and how to help early adopters in the ecosystem. She brings expertise from quantum computing marketing as well as other cutting-edge technologies and uses that to offer up salient advice in today’s world of a continually shifting ecosystem.

Qubits conference: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/qubits-2021-on-demand-tickets-192352691077
Link to jen’s bio on dwave page: https://www.dwavesys.com/company/leadership/
Classical Elephant blog post: https://www.zapatacomputing.com/classical-elephant/
Previous episode (audio): https://anchor.fm/thequantumpod/episodes/Dana-Jones-and-Enterprise-Transformation---Episode-6-e1fcir7
Previous episode (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YloTKerUjM&list=PLnfLBUr5sAbAR4y94MxwNLuUqUFF46VF1&index=6
D-Wave and Caxia Bank: https://www.hpcwire.com/off-the-wire/d-wave-and-caixabank-collaborate-on-quantum-applications-for-finance-industry/
Quantum Machine Learning Considerations for Enterprises: https://www.zapatacomputing.com/qml-enterprise/
Podcast Episode with Brian Dellabetta: https://anchor.fm/thequantumpod/episodes/Luis-Serrano--Brian-Dellabetta--and-what-Quantum-Can-Bring-to-Machine-Learning---Episode-3-e12uv9v

Intro/Outro music: Oblivious by Nihilore (https://www.nihilore.com/synthwave)
Nihilore license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode
Mouse Squeak sound is from Mouse by Smokey9977 and licensed under CC0
Page turning sound is from turn the page by D.jones and licensed under CC BY 3.0

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zapatacomputing
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zapata-computing
The Quantum Pod is produced by Zapata Computing
Host: Ethan Hansen
Guest: Jen Houston
Editing and commentary: Ethan Hansen
Special thanks to: Liz St. Pierre, Katherine Londergan, and Mick Emmett

Ever wondered how enterprise AI transformation compares to how enterprises should be approaching the adoption of quantum technologies? Or what lessons can be learned from the machine learning revolution so pitfalls can be avoided with quantum? In this episode, Katherine Londergan sits down with Dana Jones, a veteran of the machine learning transformation and CEO of RealPage to learn what her experience in both fields has taught her.

The Classical Elephant in the Quantum Room: https://www.zapatacomputing.com/classical-elephant/

Intro/Outro music: Oblivious by Nihilore (https://www.nihilore.com/synthwave)

Nihilore license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

Coffee brewing sound is from Coffee Maker by cabaret and licensed under CC0

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zapatacomputing

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zapata-computing

The Quantum Pod is produced by Zapata Computing

Host: Katherine Londergan

Guest: Dana Jones

Editing and commentary: Ethan Hansen

Special thanks to: Liz St. Pierre and Mick Emmett

Inside Quantum Technology recently hosted an excellent conference on quantum computing and quantum technology, and in this episode we get to hear from the organizers about what they’ve learned from this conference and the previous conferences they’ve organized.

Recent IQT Conference: https://iqtevent.com/fall/

Upcoming IQT Event in 2022: https://iqtevent.com/thehague/

Learn more about Orquestra: https://www.orquestra.io/

IBM’s CLOPS announcement: https://research.ibm.com/blog/circuit-layer-operations-per-second

The Classical Elephant in the Quantum Room: https://www.zapatacomputing.com/classical-elephant/

Intro/Outro music: Oblivious by Nihilore (https://www.nihilore.com/synthwave)

Nihilore license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

Busy office ambiance sound is from The Office by qubodup and licensed under CC BY 3.0

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zapatacomputing

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zapata-computing

The Quantum Pod is produced by Zapata Computing

Host: Ethan Hansen

Guests: Lawrence Gasman and Christopher Bishop

Special thanks to: Mick Emmett and Tim Hirzel

Optimization is one of the major areas often brought up as a place where quantum computers could provide advantage first. But why is that and how do we get there? In this episode Yudong, Alejandro, and I talk all about that.

QEO paper: https://www.zapatacomputing.com/publications/enhancing-combinatorial-optimization-with-quantum-generative-models/

2nd episode with Jhonathan about benchmarking quantum solutions: https://anchor.fm/thequantumpod/episodes/Jhonathan-Romero-Fontalvo-and-the-Path-to-Practical-Quantum-Applications---Episode-2-e115ata

Intro/Outro music: Oblivious by Nihilore (https://www.nihilore.com/synthwave)

Nihilore license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

Blackboard sound is from blackboard3.wav by lezaarth and licensed under CC0 1.0

Colombian ambiance and music is from franco_hernan_baja_fidelidad_carloserestrepo_medellin.wav by artesmediales and licensed under CC BY 3.0

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zapatacomputing

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zapata-computing

The Quantum Pod is produced by Zapata Computing

Host: Ethan Hansen

Guests: Yudong Cao and Alejandro Perdomo-Ortiz

Special thanks to: Mick Emmett and Tim Hirzel

Many of our employees, customers, and users have come from machine learning and Brain and Luis are no exceptions! Hear from them about having 1 foot in machine learning and one foot in quantum, pushing what’s possible with quantum boosts to classical algorithms, and why enterprises should care now. This episode should be especially interesting to those who are more on the technical side: ML practitioners (and those who work with them) who can use quantum today and in the future to take their impact to the next level.

Episode 2 of The Quantum Pod with Jhonathan Romero-Fontalvo: https://anchor.fm/thequantumpod/episodes/Jhonathan-Romero-Fontalvo-and-the-Path-to-Practical-Quantum-Applications---Episode-2-e115ata

Zapata open opportunities: https://www.zapatacomputing.com/careers/

Quantum Enhanced Optimization paper: https://www.zapatacomputing.com/publications/enhancing-combinatorial-optimization-with-quantum-generative-models/

Luis’ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBncpylJ1kiVaPyP-PZauQ

Intro/Outro music: Oblivious by Nihilore (https://www.nihilore.com/synthwave)

Nihilore license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

Whiteboard sound is a selection from: https://freesound.org/people/giddster/sounds/360484/

Baseball sound is a selection from: https://freesound.org/people/bowlingballout/sounds/58596/

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zapatacomputing

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zapata-computing

The Quantum Pod is produced by Zapata Computing

Host: Ethan Hansen

Guests: Luis Serrano and Brian Dellabetta

Special thanks to: Katherine Londergan

In this pod one of Zapata's scientific founders dives into the craft of creating, benchmarking, and piloting quantum  algorithms for enterprise scale, looking at some real-world examples  along the way. That said, it will be a bit more technical than the last.  Stick with it and you’re sure to learn something!

Paper with BP: https://www.zapatacomputing.com/publications/identifying-challenges-towards-practical-quantum-advantage-through-resource-estimation/

Intro/Outro music: Oblivious by Nihilore (https://www.nihilore.com/synthwave)

Nihilore license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

Jazz background music is a selection from: https://freesound.org/people/Migfus20/sounds/559850/

Jazz sound license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcode 

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zapatacomputing
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zapata-computing

The Quantum Pod is produced by Zapata Computing
Host: Ethan Hansen
Guest: Jhonathan Romero Fontalvo
Special thanks to: Katherine Londergan

What do hamsters running around their cage and enterprise quantum software have in common? Christopher Savoie will tell you all about it!

Some of our incredible teammates:

• https://www.zapatacomputing.com/team/alejandro-perdomo-ortiz/
• https://www.zapatacomputing.com/team/luis-serrano/
• https://www.zapatacomputing.com/team/francisco-javier-fernandez-alcazar/

CJS’s Forbes Column he referenced: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/02/05/how-quantum-computers-could-cut-millions-of-miles-from-supply-chains-and-transform-logistics/?sh=4500923c25a9

Intro/Outro music: Oblivious by Nihilore (https://www.nihilore.com/synthwave)

Nihilore license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

Baseball sound license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcode

Baseball sound origin: https://freesound.org/people/AshFox/sounds/191915/

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zapatacomputing
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zapata-computing

The Quantum Pod is produced by Zapata Computing
Host: Ethan Hansen
Guest: Christopher Savoie
Special thanks to:
Katherine Londergan and Tim Hirzel