What does it really take to make quantum computers work at scale? Anders Indset hosts Steve Brierley, founder & CEO of Riverlane, to unpack fault-tolerant quantum computing's potential to revolutionize chemistry, materials science, and climate tech.
Discover why qubits are so fragile, how 25 years of error rate improvements still fall short, and the trillion-operation leap needed for real-world impact. Steve reveals Riverlane's real-time error correction stack—accelerating hardware roadmaps by 3-5 years across superconducting, trapped ions, neutral atoms, silicon spins, and NV centers.
Key insights:
Crossing the QEC threshold: From 1,000 to billions of error-free operations
Quantum + AI/HPC: Hybrid workflows for next-gen supercomputing
First applications: Quantum chemistry, materials design, efficient catalysts
Quantum computers as "programmable models of nature" for new physics discoveries
They also tackle big questions: Are quantum machines or nature's simulators? Can quantum-AI uncover new elements or physical laws? Is consciousness computable?
00:00 Introduction
01:37 The Fragility of Qubits and Error Correction
04:40 Engineering Challenges in Quantum Computing
07:40 Exploring Different Qubit Modalities
11:48 Commercial Pathways for Quantum Computing
13:58 The Role of Quantum Computing in Chemistry
18:40 The Intersection of Quantum Computing and AI
21:33 Quantum Mechanics: A Model of Nature
24:39 Exploring New Physics with Quantum Computers
34:34 Exploring Quantum Simulations and Reality
37:36 The Future of Quantum Computing and AI Convergence
42:07 The Implications of AI and Quantum Technologies
49:24 The Nature of Consciousness and Human Uniqueness
56:20 The Future of Quantum Error Correction and Industry Impact
About Steve Brierley
https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-brierley-72127a142/
About Anders Indset
Anders Indset is the world’s leading business philosophers and the author of seven international bestsellers. With recent works such as Ex Machina – The God Experiment and The Singularity Paradox: Bridging the Gap Between Humanity and AI, his thought leadership has expanded far beyond economics and classical philosophy – earning him recognition from leading scientists and technologists, including prominent physicists. As the founder of tomorrowmensch, he invests in breakthrough science and technologies and convenes leading thinkers, investors, and entrepreneurs shaping the future.
NEW BOOK
The Quantum Economy
https://andersindset.com/shop/The-Quantum-Economy-p803754261
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andersindset/
