Tech corporations have been pouring vast sums of money – estimated to be in the tens of billions of dollars – into developing and refining cutting-edge quantum computer systems over the past few years. The expectation is that these advancements will revolutionize diverse fields such as finance, drug discovery, and logistics. The expectations have been particularly excessive in the realms of physics and chemistry, where the counterintuitive consequences of quantum mechanics take center stage. Where ideas are concerned, quantum computer systems may yield a substantial advantage over conventional machines.
While the sphere faces challenges in harnessing the potential of quantum hardware, another contender is gaining traction in several promising applications. Artificial intelligence is increasingly being applied to fundamental physics, chemistry, and materials science, potentially encroaching on the traditional domain of quantum computing.
As the pace of technological progress accelerates, an increasing number of researchers are pondering whether AI can make significant headway in resolving some of the most pressing challenges in chemistry and materials science before large-scale quantum computers become a reality?
Bits and Bytes
As the global quest for artificial intelligence supremacy intensifies, Saudi Arabia is recognizing the imperative to accelerate its own AI momentum. Putting its money where its mouth is. The government is allocating a substantial amount of funding to create a cutting-edge technology centre, aiming to surpass its regional competitor, the United Arab Emirates. ()
Two recent examples starkly illustrate the profound impact that AI-generated content can have on shaping our perception of reality. Within the bustling metropolis of Dublin, preparations are underway for a spooktacular Halloween parade to take center stage. Despite the lack of a deliberate parade, an artificial intelligence (AI) system generated content that was subsequently picked up by social media users and local media outlets. Despite being genuine individuals, certain social media users were mistakenly dismissed as artificially generated, due to the presence of distinguishing features.
Military forces worldwide are investing heavily in cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence. The latest tech giants, Meta and Anthropic, have started vying for their attention, joining the ranks of established players like Google and OpenAI. ()
The prevailing approach to advancing artificial intelligence is often misguided, as it tends to amplify problems rather than solving them. Despite being touted as a groundbreaking innovation, OpenAI’s latest model, codenamed Orion, has failed to impress with its modest performance gains over previous iterations. OpenAI is transitioning to fine-tune models following initial training. ()
