Nvidia plans to open a quantum computing research lab in Boston, collaborating with scientists from Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as announced by CEO Jensen Huang. This news was shared during Nvidia's annual software developer conference, which focused on quantum computing.
The initiative follows Huang's earlier statement suggesting that useful quantum computers are two decades away, a claim he sought to clarify during the event alongside executives from various quantum computing firms. "This is the first event in history where a company CEO invites all of the guests to explain why he was wrong," he remarked.
The Nvidia Accelerated Quantum Research Center, referred to as NVAQC, will partner with quantum companies including Quantinuum, Quantum Machines, and QuEra Computing, with plans to begin operations later this year.
Huang engaged in discussions about the current state of the industry with executives from over a dozen firms, many of whom aim to monetize quantum technology before it surpasses traditional computing capabilities. Matt Kinsella, CEO of Infleqtion, highlighted that his company already delivers advanced computing clocks for better synchronization of classical chips.
"We're following a tried and true monetization and market development strategy of capitalizing on areas where we currently hold a true quantum advantage," Kinsella noted.
Quantum executives expressed that even when their machines exceed the performance of Nvidia's graphics processing units (GPUs) in areas like atomic interactions, quantum technology will not replace traditional computers. "We use your GPUs to design our chips," stated Peter Chapman, CEO of IonQ. "It's going to be a classical system sitting next to a quantum computer, going back and forth... I wouldn't short any Nvidia stock at the end of this."