Quantum computers exist. They can't do anything useful yet. Why?
The problem isn't quantum mechanics. It's control.
Every qubit needs tuning, stabilization, coherence management. That collapses before you reach scale. You need millions of qubits for real computation. We have dozens working reliably.
Brandon Severin (Conductor Quantum) explains how Nvidia chips solve the control problem.
The insight: Spin qubits use semiconductor fabrication—the same tech printing 50 billion transistors on Nvidia chips. That could print millions of qubits. But controlling them requires massive classical computing power. That's where Nvidia comes in.
Brandon's background: Oxford PhD, crossed paths with Oxford Ionics founder Chris Ballance, now building quantum computers in Silicon Valley using spin qubits on silicon.
We talk about:
- Google's new quantum algorithm (simulating atoms, molecules—finally useful)
- Trapped ions vs spin qubits (why spin could scale faster)
- How AI redefines quantum control and stability
- Why calibration and error correction are the real bottlenecks
- Quantum founders shifting from academics to builders
- Why progress needs manufacturing, algorithms, collaboration—not just physics
The shift: Quantum moved from physics departments to startups, foundries, chip fabs. The physicists who understand manufacturing are winning.
Most quantum content is too technical or too simple. This cuts through.
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Guest: Brandon Severin, Founder Conductor Quantum | Oxford PhD
Topics: Quantum computing, Nvidia, spin qubits, control systems, error correction, Google quantum, semiconductor fabrication
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Guest: Brandon Severin, Founder Conductor Quantum | Oxford PhD
Topics: Quantum computing, Nvidia, spin qubits, control systems, AI calibration, Google quantum, scaling, error correction
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Timestamps
(00:00) Trailer
(01:13) The Google Announcement Explained Simply
(03:47) Trapped Ions vs. Spin Qubits
(06:14) How AI Controls Quantum Computers
(11:06) Inside the Quantum Circus: Managing Errors, Fidelity, and Coherence
(32:59) Building Quantum Computers: Why Scale Depends on Automation
(33:41) The Culture of Quantum Startups vs. the AI Boom
(36:52) Human Nature, Technology, and the Race for Control
(39:43) The Future of Quantum Computing: From Physics to Scalable Systems
