Yuval interviews Robert Wille, a computer scientist and co-founder focused on quantum computing software. They discuss the field’s transition from research to practical deployment, the need for heterogeneous and hardware-agnostic software stacks, and the integration of quantum into HPC environments. Robert explains the importance of design automation, open-source strategy, and AI-assisted development, arguing that quantum’s complex optimization challenges resemble those long solved in classical computing.

Sebastian Hassinger, host of The New Quantum Era podcast and author of a new book by the same name, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Sebastian and Yuval have much in common beyond their work in quantum: both are podcasters, neither holds a PhD, and both are authors of new books — Sebastian's The New Quantum Era and Yuval's Quantum Bits, the Comic Book Guide to Quantum Computing. In a conversation more symmetric than the typical episode, they compare notes on the motivation and process of writing these books, the challenge of explaining quantum computing to non-physicists, and debate Hassinger's modality forecast. They also discuss their hypothetical dinner guests from the quantum greats, and much more.

Get the books at:

www.QuantumBitsComics.com/buy

www.TheNewQuantumEra.com

Klea Dhmitri of Hamamatsu joins Yuval to discuss the company’s role as a photonic component provider for trapped-ion and neutral-atom quantum computers. She explains key technologies such as photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), SPADs, and quantitative CMOS cameras, and how scaling to larger qubit arrays changes requirements for speed, resolution, and integration. Klea also shares how customer demand is pushing product innovation, reflects on her unconventional path into quantum, and offers advice for those looking to build careers in photonics and quantum technologies.

Yuval Boger interviews Brian Gaucher, an experienced engineer and IBM veteran who co-chaired ERVA’s report Engineering Research to Advance Quantum Technologies. Brian explains that while U.S. quantum science remains strong, global competition is accelerating and the key limiter is no longer physics discovery but engineering the path from “lab to fab”—scalable, manufacturable, reliable systems. They discuss why the U.S. should pursue a coordinated, semiconductor-like national strategy with shared pilot lines, standards, metrology, public-private investment, and a broader workforce—not just physicists. They also cover the report’s four pillars (materials, biology, computing, AI), the importance of domestic fabrication, and why biology and quantum sensing may deliver surprisingly near-term impact.

Yuval Boger interviews Michaela Eichinger, a product solutions physicist at Quantum Machines and the author of a widely read quantum computing newsletter. They discuss her transition from academia to industry, her fascination with systems-level views of the quantum stack, and the role of communication in building the quantum ecosystem. The conversation covers the state of quantum computing in 2026, realistic metrics for progress, superconducting qubits, and why classical processing and HPC integration are becoming central to useful quantum computers.

Yuval Boger interviews Lionel Martellini, finance professor at the EDHEC and founding director of the EDHEC Quantum Institute. Lionel describes his unusual path from finance to astrophysics and why business schools should teach quantum awareness to future leaders. They discuss core quantum concepts, the danger of overhyping “quantum washing,” and the real prospects for quantum applications in finance. The conversation also explores executive education, practical use cases, and how businesses should prepare for quantum technologies.

Yuval Boger interviews Dorit Dor, co-founder of Qbeat Ventures and former senior executive at Check Point. They discuss lessons quantum startups can draw from the evolution of cybersecurity, including the importance of go-to-market strategy, focus, and adherence to standards. Dorit outlines her fund’s cross-stack investment strategy, compares different quantum modalities, comments on public market dynamics, and highlights the growing Israeli quantum ecosystem and its potential for future impact.

Yuval Boger interviews Matt Kinsella, CEO of Infleqtion. They discuss Infleqtion’s neutral-atom strategy, including its combination of quantum computing, sensing, and timing products, and why Matt believes that diversified approach strengthens both the business and the technology stack. Matt also shares his timeline for commercially useful quantum computing, his reaction to Google entering neutral atoms, and his perspective on capital, talent, and scaling the company as a newly public business.

Yuval Boger interviews mathematician Gil Kalai about his long-standing skepticism regarding scalable quantum computing. Kalai explains two main arguments behind his theory: correlated noise that may defeat quantum error correction and complexity-based limits on NISQ devices achieving quantum supremacy. They discuss experimental claims such as Google’s 2019 result, potential tests of Kalai’s conjectures, and the implications for the future of quantum research. The conversation also explores how Kalai hopes the community will evaluate bold claims and what scientific insights could emerge regardless of the outcome.

Yuval Boger interviews Tom Darras, CEO and co-founder of Welinq. They discuss how quantum networking uses shared entanglement to interconnect quantum processors, enabling modular scale-out clusters and quantum-safe connectivity between data centers. Tom explains the technical building blocks—qubit-photon interfaces, optical networks, entangled photon sources, and especially quantum memories—as well as the performance metrics that matter most, like entanglement generation rate, fidelity, and memory lifetime. They also cover Welinq’s Arachne compiler for distributing circuits across multiple QPUs, why networking is becoming a consensus scaling strategy across modalities, and how “quantum-augmented data centers” are starting to become real initiatives.

Yuval Boger interviews Bob Sorensen of Hyperion Research about the growing convergence of quantum computing and high-performance computing. They outline a problem-first adoption playbook for HPC centers: identify bottlenecks, benchmark classical options and costs, then evaluate quantum as an accelerator with clear ROI and procurement targets. Sorensen weighs cloud versus on‑prem tradeoffs, argues quantum hardware needs short lifecycles with upgrade paths, and explains why HPC managers mainly worry about seamless integration. They close with practical definitions of quantum advantage (speed, capability, and power), real-world case studies, and why error-correction-driven architecture is increasingly shaping modality decisions.