• Nvidia is launching the Nvidia Accelerated Quantum Research Center (NVAQC) in Boston, collaborating with Harvard, MIT, and quantum firms.
  • Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang previously said useful quantum computers were 20 years away but later revised his stance at the company’s event.

Nvidia is set to establish a quantum computing research lab in Boston, marking a significant step in the company’s involvement in the emerging technology. The announcement was made by CEO Jensen Huang during Nvidia’s annual software developer conference in San Jose, California.

The new research center, named the Nvidia Accelerated Quantum Research Center (NVAQC), will partner with scientists from Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The lab will also collaborate with quantum computing firms such as Quantinuum, Quantum Machines, and QuEra Computing. Nvidia stated that the facility is expected to begin operations later this year.

Shifting Perspectives on Quantum Computing

Huang’s announcement comes after his earlier comments in January, where he stated that useful quantum computers were still two decades away. However, onstage at the conference, he took a different stance.

"This is the first event in history where a company CEO invites all of the guests to explain why he was wrong,"

Huang said, acknowledging the rapid developments in the quantum computing space.

Nvidia dedicated an entire day at the event to quantum computing, featuring discussions with industry leaders. More than a dozen executives from quantum computing firms joined Huang onstage, highlighting current advancements and the potential of quantum technology.

Quantum and Classical Computing to Coexist

Despite advancements in quantum technology, industry leaders emphasized that traditional computing will remain essential.

Peter Chapman, CEO of IonQ, highlighted this relationship, stating,

"We use your GPUs to design our chips. It's going to be a classical system sitting next to a quantum computer, going back and forth."

Matt Kinsella, CEO of Infleqtion, pointed out that quantum technology is already providing commercial benefits, such as improved computing clocks that synchronize classical chips.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah