We’re continually inspired by our customers and the complex data challenges they’re overcoming to make what was previously impossible possible. This blog series spotlights some of our inspiring new customers and why they chose WEKA.

Artificial intelligence may have been dominating the headlines in your news feed of late, but there’s another emerging technology quietly waiting in the wings for its moment to take the spotlight: quantum computing.

If you aren’t familiar with the concept yet (or are still trying to wrap your brain around it like we are), I highly recommend reading this excellent overview from CalTech.

Quantum computing is an area of computer science based on the principles of quantum mechanics. Unlike your current laptop (or desktop, if that’s your thing), quantum computers use quantum bits, or “qubits,” that process information much differently than traditional computing models that process binary bits of 1s or 0s.

By comparison, qubits can simultaneously be a superposition of ones and zeros. Additionally, qubits can become entangled, linking together. Superposition and entanglement give quantum computers next-level capabilities, creating a multidimensional processing environment that can address calculations that would, theoretically, take a traditional computer thousands of years to complete.

Although many still believe quantum computing is theoretical, it’s not an ephemeral technology. Just ask our friends at Entanglement.

Why They’re Cool

Founded in 2017 to develop quantum information science through a large research facility, Entanglement is solving previously unsolvable problems across various industries and use cases by merging quantum computing with AI to unlock massive data efficiencies that can lead to transformational business and societal changes.

For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Entanglement used its quantum-based approach to help the U.S. Army distribute limited personal protective equipment (PPE) stockpiles, slashing its data processing time from 14 hours to under 30 seconds.

Entanglement is also a founding member of the Quantum Economic Development Consortium, a group of industry stakeholders that aims to enable and grow the quantum industry. As part of the U.S. government’s 2018 National Quantum Initiative Act, the consortium plays a key role in facilitating the development of quantum information science and technology applications across industries and supply chains.

The company’s business model is unconventional. Think of it as a deep-tech holding company that incubates and innovates what Entanglement founder and CEO Jason Turner calls “Legos of technology and capabilities.” Entanglement then spins out these building blocks into different vertically focused use cases, such as supply chain management and cybersecurity, reducing the operating costs of large language models (LLMs) and solving big problems facing society today.

Turner may be a technologist today, but he started as a classically trained piano prodigy, graduating from the world-renowned Berklee College of Music with a major in music synthesis. Before founding Entanglement, Turner had a successful career as a recording artist. He later developed a software tool that helped broadcasters render high-quality, feature-length films into digital format in minutes instead of hours—and even produced the world’s first online pay-per-view concert. Since then, he’s been applying the fundamentals of his classical music training to really hard technology problems, transforming science fiction into science fact.

“Half my office is a recording studio. Synthesizers and computers are really just two sides of the same coin,” said Turner. “I started seeing similarities between analog and digital, leading to what I call ‘multidimensional computing’ that can shatter expectations of what today’s computers can process.”

Why They Chose WEKA

If you thought AI had cornered the market on delivering fast data insights, think again. Quantum computing is poised to take computing to a whole new level—it’s like transforming a commercial jetliner into a space shuttle. WEKA’s AI-native data platform software is helping Entanglement unleash its data and flow quickly and frictionlessly to power its quantum computing resources with maximum efficiency.

“WEKA was the only choice for Entanglement. As a next-generation computing and AI company, reliability, speed and performance are critical to our business. We’re constantly making the impossible possible, pushing the edge of quantum-inspired computing and algorithms. To remain at that edge, we require a scalable and reliable storage platform for all of our computing requirements,” Turner said.

Sustainability and regulation are also critical topics for Entanglement. Organizations worldwide are grappling to address AI’s energy requirements while mitigating its environmental impact. Entanglement is no different. Turner’s team is grounded in quantum optimization and well-positioned to use this expertise to create more energy-efficient workflows that get the most out of quantum with the smallest carbon footprint possible, which the WEKA® Data Platform is helping them to achieve.

Meanwhile, Turner is hopeful that future AI regulation won’t restrict companies’ ability to innovate despite valid concerns about AI’s potentially harmful cultural impacts.

“While some may exploit AI negatively, overregulation could hinder innovation. We aim to develop real intelligence that can reason in a trustworthy way. AI and quantum computing hold immense promise if we can build a high-trust, scalable computing infrastructure to support them,” he noted.

Watch this Space

WEKA is proud to help Entanglement realize its bold vision by applying quantum and AI applications across myriad industries and use cases. To learn more about Entanglement and its portfolio of companies, visit https://www.entanglement.com/.

Explore WEKA for GPU Acceleration