Scientists in Australia have used quantum machine learning to model semiconductor properties more accurately, potentially transforming how microchips are designed and manufactured.
The hybrid technique combines AI with quantum computing to solve a long-standing challenge in chip production: predicting electrical resistance where metal meets semiconductor.
The Australian researchers developed a new algorithm, the Quantum Kernel-Aligned Regressor (QKAR), which uses quantum methods to detect complex patterns in small, noisy datasets, a common issue in semiconductor research.
By improving how engineers predict Ohmic contact resistance, the approach could lead to faster, more energy-efficient chips. It also offers real-world compatibility, meaning it can eventually run on existing quantum machines as the hardware matures.
The findings highlight the growing role of quantum AI in hardware design and suggest the method could be adopted in commercial chip production in the near future.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Biotech firm NeOnc Technologies has gained rapid attention after going public in March 2025 and joining the Russell Microcap Index just months later. The company focuses on intranasal drug delivery for brain cancer, allowing patients to administer treatment at home and bypass the blood-brain barrier.
NeOnc’s lead treatment is in Phase 2A trials for glioblastoma patients and is already showing extended survival times with minimal side effects. Backed by a partnership with USC’s Keck Medical School, the company is also expanding clinical trials to the Middle East and North Africa under US FDA standards.
A $50 million investment deal with a UAE-based firm is helping fund this expansion, including trials run by Cleveland Clinic through a regional partnership. The trials are expected to be fully enrolled by September, with positive preliminary data already being reported.
AI and quantum computing are central to NeOnc’s strategy, particularly in reducing risk and cost in trial design and drug development. As a pre-revenue biotech, the company is betting that innovation and global collaboration will carry it to the next stage of growth.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Aalto University researchers have achieved a milestone in quantum computing by extending the coherence time of a superconducting transmon qubit beyond one millisecond. The breakthrough significantly improves how long quantum states remain stable, enabling more reliable operations.
The Finnish team used ultra-pure materials and precision engineering techniques to fabricate the qubit, achieving a median coherence time of 541 microseconds and a peak of 1057 microseconds.
Unlike earlier coherence records set by more exotic qubit types, Aalto’s success came within the widely used transmon framework, making it easier for others to replicate. The researchers published detailed fabrication methods to help advance consistency across labs globally.
Crossing the millisecond mark opens new possibilities for scalable quantum systems, reducing the burden of error correction. Finland’s growing leadership in the field is further solidified as other research teams explore Aalto’s reproducible approach.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
AI and quantum computing are reshaping global industries as investment surges and innovation accelerates across sectors like finance, healthcare and logistics. Microsoft and Amazon are driving a major shift in AI infrastructure, transforming cloud services into profitable platforms.
Quantum computing is moving beyond theory, with real-world applications emerging in pharmaceuticals and e-commerce. Google’s development of quantum-inspired algorithms for virtual shopping and faster analytics demonstrates its potential to revolutionise decision-making.
Sustainability is also gaining ground, with companies adopting AI-powered solutions for renewable energy and eco-friendly manufacturing. At the same time, digital banks are integrating AI to challenge legacy finance systems, offering personalised, accessible services.
Despite rapid progress, ethical concerns and regulatory challenges are mounting. Data privacy, AI bias, and antitrust issues highlight the need for responsible innovation, with industry leaders urged to balance risk and growth for long-term societal benefit.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
A joint statement committed to signing an administrative agreement on AI, aligned with principles from the Hiroshima AI Process. Shared initiatives include a €4 million EU-supported quantum R&D project named Q‑NEKO and the 6G MIRAI‑HARMONY research effort.
Both parties pledge to enhance data governance, digital identity interoperability, regulatory coordination across platforms, and secure connectivity via submarine cables and Arctic routes. The accord builds on the Strategic Partnership Agreement activated in January 2025, reinforcing their mutual platform for rules-based, value-driven digital and innovation cooperation.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Quantum computing holds vast promise for sectors from climate modelling to drug discovery and AI, but it remains far from mainstream due to significant barriers. The fragility of qubits, the shortage of scalable quantum software, and the immense number of qubits required continue to limit progress.
Keeping qubits stable is one of the most significant technical obstacles, with most only lasting microseconds before disruption. Current solutions rely on extreme cooling and specialised equipment, which remain expensive and impractical for widespread use.
Even the most advanced systems today operate with a fraction of the qubits needed for practical applications, while software options remain scarce and highly tailored. Businesses exploring quantum solutions must often build their tools from scratch, adding to the cost and complexity.
Beyond technology, the field faces social and structural challenges. A lack of skilled professionals and fears around unequal access could see quantum benefits restricted to big tech firms and governments.
Security is another looming concern, as future quantum machines may be capable of breaking current encryption standards. Policymakers and businesses must develop defences before such systems become widely available.
AI may accelerate progress in both directions. Quantum computing can supercharge model training and simulation, while AI is already helping to improve qubit stability and propose new hardware designs.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
A leading cybersecurity expert has raised concerns that Bitcoin’s underlying cryptography could be broken within five years. David Carvalho, CEO of Naoris Protocol, warned that quantum computers could soon break the cryptography securing Bitcoin transactions.
He believes the threat could materialise sooner than most anticipate, urging immediate action.
Carvalho pointed to Shor’s algorithm as the core concern. Once sufficiently advanced quantum machines are deployed, they could crack Bitcoin’s defences in seconds.
Roughly 30% of all Bitcoin—around 6 to 7 million BTC—is currently held in wallets with exposed public keys, making them especially vulnerable.
He also referenced major breakthroughs in the field, including Microsoft’s Majorana chip and IBM’s planned release of a fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2029.
With over 100 quantum systems already active and thousands more expected by 2030, Carvalho advised investors to migrate funds to quantum-secure wallets and update their security protocols.
However, Adam Back, CEO of Blockstream and an early Bitcoin contributor, believes the technology is still decades away from posing a real threat. He did acknowledge that future advancements may force even early adopters to move their coins to quantum-resistant addresses.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), alongside cybersecurity firm SISA, cautions that these powerful machines could soon break the encryption used to protect everything from online banking to personal identity systems.
CERT-In’s new white paper outlines how attackers may already be stockpiling encrypted data to unlock later using quantum tools, a tactic called ‘harvest now, decrypt later’. If left unaddressed, this strategy could expose sensitive data stored today once quantum technology matures.
AI is adding to the urgency. As it becomes more embedded in digital systems, it also increases access to user data, raising the stakes if encryption is compromised. The biggest digital systems in India, including Aadhaar, cryptocurrencies, and smart devices, are seen as particularly exposed to this looming risk.
Everyday users are advised to take precautions: update devices regularly, use strong passwords with multi-factor authentication, and avoid storing sensitive data online long-term. Services like Signal or ProtonMail, which use strong encryption, are also recommended.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
The Quantum initiative, operating under the new entity QuNorth, aims to deploy a system named Magne, expected to deliver unprecedented computational power when it becomes operational in late 2026 or early 2027.
Magne will boast approximately 50 logical qubits, enabling tasks beyond the reach of classical computers. Built by Atom Computing and powered by Microsoft’s quantum stack, it marks one of the first Level 2 quantum systems with integrated error correction.
The ambition is to eventually scale to hundreds or even a thousand logical qubits, entering a realm of applications that include transformative chemistry modelling, accelerated drug discovery and optimised logistics.
Boasting full Danish ownership, Magne is based in Copenhagen, and QuNorth will facilitate access for Nordic businesses and researchers.
Quantum computing is progressing faster than expected, with Rigetti Computing achieving a major breakthrough. The company reached 99.5% median 2-qubit gate fidelity using a modular 36-qubit system—halving its error rate and moving closer to fault-tolerant computing.
The new machine, built from four 9-qubit chiplets, represents the industry’s largest multichip quantum system. Its modular design addresses the scalability challenges of single-chip models.
Rigetti’s superconducting qubits also outperform rivals by operating at significantly faster speeds.
Plans are in place to launch a 100+-qubit system before the end of 2025. Backing from DARPA, the US Air Force, and the UK government further validates Rigetti’s approach. Partnerships with Nvidia and Quanta Computer add commercial strength.
Despite modest revenue, Rigetti holds $575 million in cash with no debt and owns the sector’s first dedicated quantum chip factory. True commercial quantum advantage is expected between 2026 and 2028.
Shares of Rigetti, along with other quantum computing firms like IonQ and D-Wave, have surged in recent months, outperforming the broader market.
Rigetti offers strong potential—but remains a high-risk pick in a competitive field.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
