Tech Diplomacy Now: Microsoft's Quantum Breakthrough?
Microsoft’s Majorana 1 processor may be the “transistor for the quantum age.”
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Tech Diplomacy Updates
Top News of the Week
Latest News
Technology Strategy and Policy
Artificial Intelligence
Telecommunications Networks and Infrastructure
Critical Minerals
Synthetic Biology
Quantum
Advanced Aerospace Technology
Semiconductors and Microelectronics
Energy and Climate
Opinion and Commentary
The Last Word
Michelle Giuda Joins The Skapa Podcast: Creating the Future
Krach Institute CEO Michelle Giuda joined Saab, Inc.’s Chief Strategy Officer Michael Brasseur and Chief Innovation Officer Rob Murray on the latest episode of The Skapa Podcast. Giuda discussed the imperative for the free world to set the pace in creating the future, how business and citizen leaders are critical stakeholders in national security, as well as the collaboration between Purdue University and Saab in developing cutting-edge air and sea technologies.
Top News of the Week - Quantum Computing Breakthrough?
Microsoft’s development of their Majorana 1 processor may herald a major breakthrough in quantum computing.
Key Points:
The Microsoft chip is based upon Majorana particles, which are not naturally occurring like electrons and protons.
The Microsoft chip is a hybrid of established semiconductor technology and quantum hardware with eight quantum bits (qubits) arranged as topoconductors which puts them on the path to a million-qubit processor.
Last year, Google unveiled its Willow processor chip for quantum computing. Researchers proclaimed that the chip could solve calculations in five minutes that would take the most advanced supercomputers nearly 10 septillion years to solve, a period of time older than the universe.
More on Background:
Press Release: Microsoft’s Majorana 1 chip carves new path for quantum computing – Microsoft, February 19, 2025
Microsoft’s New Majorana 1 Processor Could Transform Quantum Computing – Wired, February 22, 2025
Interferometric single-shot parity measurement in InAs–Al hybrid devices – Nature, February 19, 2025
Microsoft Says It Has Created a New State of Matter to Power Quantum Computers – NYTs, February 19, 2025
DIVE DEEPER: Visit the Tech Diplomacy Academy to understand quantum computing, which promises exponential advancements in computational power, but also poses a significant security threat.
Latest News
Apple Will Add 20,000 US Jobs Amid Threat from Trump Tariffs – Bloomberg, February 24, 2025
Trump orders new curbs on Chinese investments in strategic areas – SCMP, February 22, 2025
Google to be hit with EU charges of breaching Big Tech rules, sources say – Reuters, February 21, 2025
Trump orders trade chief to revive tariff retaliation against digital taxes – Reuters, February 21, 2025
Taiwan holds its breath as Trump turns on Ukraine and upends US foreign policy – The Guardian, February 20, 2025
Chinese warships sail within 150 nautical miles of Sydney – FT, February 19, 2025
How Dirty Money From Fentanyl Sales Is Flowing Through China – WSJ, February 18, 2025
The New Plan for Western Companies Is ABC: ‘Anything But China’ – WSJ, February 17, 2025
Russia could start a major war in Europe within 5 years, Danish intelligence warns – Politico, February 17, 2025
Technology Strategy and Policy
US could cut Ukraine's access to Starlink internet services over minerals, say sources – Reuters, February 22, 2025
Estonia's tech investors take defence into their own hands as Russian threat looms – Reuters, February 21, 2025
EU scales back tech rules to boost AI investment, says digital chief – FT, February 17, 2025
Establishing the National Energy Dominance Council – White House, February 14, 2025
Apple, Google Restore TikTok App After Assurances from Trump – Bloomberg, February 13, 2025
Trump prepares to change US CHIPS Act conditions, sources say – Reuters, February 13, 2025
Artificial Intelligence
China taps tech talent to boost AI data centre boom – FT, February 24, 2025
OpenAI Uncovers Evidence of A.I.-Powered Chinese Surveillance Tool – NYTs, February 21, 2025
Disrupting malicious uses of AI – OpenAI, February 21, 2025
Chinese universities launch DeepSeek courses to capitalise on AI boom – Reuters, February 21, 2025
South Korea Bans Downloads of DeepSeek, the Chinese A.I. App – NYTs, February 17, 2025
US and UK refuse to sign summit declaration on AI – FT, February 12, 2025
Telecommunications Networks and Infrastructure
Musk's Starlink races with Chinese rivals to dominate satellite internet – Reuters, February 24, 2025
Apple drops encryption feature for UK users after government reportedly demanded backdoor access – AP, February 21, 2025
Meta confirms 'Project Waterworth,' a global subsea cable project spanning 50,000 kilometers – TechCrunch, February 14, 2025
China’s Salt Typhoon Spies Are Still Hacking Telecoms—Now by Exploiting Cisco Routers – Wired, February 13, 2025
Tired of spotty internet, Bolivians are smuggling in Starlink – Rest of the World, February 13, 2025
Researchers say China's DeepSeek chatbot is linked to state telecom, raising data privacy concerns – The Independent, February 12, 2025
Critical Minerals
Japan warns over threat from China’s chip material export controls – FT, February 20, 2025
Chinese lithium company halts tech exports as trade tensions build – Reuters, February 18, 2025
China digs deep on mineral security as battle for resources with US intensifies – SCMP, February 17, 2025
China's BYD holds mining rights in Brazil's Lithium Valley, documents show – Reuters, February 14, 2025
Synthetic Biology
US FDA asks fired scientists to return, including some reviewing Musk’s Neuralink – Reuters, February 22, 2025
It’s not just AI. China’s medicines are surprising the world, too – The Economist, February 16, 2025
China to develop gene-edit tools, new crop varieties in biotech drive – Nikkei Asia, February 14, 2025
Towards an AI-Driven CRISPR Future – SynBioBeta, February 11, 2025
Quantum
Quantum Computing Has Arrived; We Need to Prepare For Its Impact – Forbes, February 22, 2025
Quantum computing stocks rise as Microsoft's new chip heats up debate over technology – Reuters, February 20, 2025
The Quantum Panic – The Wire China, February 16, 2025
Advanced Aerospace Technology
Chinese scientists build world’s most powerful spy camera – SCMP, February 19, 2025
China Rescues Stranded Lunar Satellites – IEEE Spectrum, February 18, 2025
Jeff Bezos’ rocket company is slashing 10% of its workforce a month after debut orbital launch – AP, February 14, 2025
China dreams of building a world-class jumbo jet. Can it do it without the West? – SCMP, February 11, 2025
Semiconductors and Microelectronics
EU approves 920 million euro German aid for Infineon chips plant – Reuters, February 20, 2025
Chinese scientists create new superconducting material based on nickel – SCMP, February 19, 2025
TSMC doesn't actually want to buy Intel. Here's why – QUARTZ, February 18, 2025
Intel stock surges 10% because TSMC and Broadcom both might buy a piece of it – Quartz, February 18, 2025
Broadcom, TSMC Weigh Possible Intel Deals That Would Split Storied Chip Maker – WSJ, February 15, 2025
Energy and Climate
Rich in cash, Japan automaker Toyota builds a city to test futuristic mobility – AP, February 22, 2025
China's SAIC, Huawei to partner in developing new smart EVs – Reuters, February 21, 2025
Electricity demand surges for the world’s two biggest polluters – The Verge, February 18, 2025
Inside China’s electric-vehicle-to-humanoid-robot pivot – MIT Technology Review, February 18, 2025
White House Unveils National Energy Dominance Council to Revolutionize U.S. Role in Global Energy Market – Hoodline, February 15, 2025
Opinion and Commentary
The end of the transatlantic alliance. Europe has lost its way – Wolfgang Munchau, Unherd, February 17, 2025
JD Vance’s Message at Munich – Dominic Green, Wall Street Journal, February 17, 2025
This Is How Trump Will Smash the Machine of U.S. Economic Power – Henry J. Farrell and Abraham L. Newman, NYTs, February 17, 2025
Beyond the Headlines on DeepSeek’s Sputnik Moment: A Conversation with Jimmy Goodrich – Jimmy Goodrich, IGCC, February 12, 2025
The Last Word
"The America First Investment Policy is as bold as it is commonsense for defending our economic and national security. For too long, foreign adversaries, like China, have exploited our open markets to gain control over key technologies, steal intellectual property, and attempt to weaken America’s innovation edge. This new policy ensures we welcome investment from trusted allies, while blocking access to those who seek to use our technology to advance an authoritarian agenda. That means working with partners who share our commitment to trusted technology standards and responsible innovation. Technology must always serve as a force for freedom and prosperity.”
– Michelle Giuda, CEO of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue
About: Tech Diplomacy Now
The Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue is the world’s preeminent trusted technology accelerator. As the leader of the new category of Tech Diplomacy, the Institute integrates technology expertise, Silicon Valley strategies, and foreign policy tools to build the Global Trusted Tech Network of governments, companies, organizations and individuals to accelerate the innovation and adoption of trusted technology and ensure technology advances freedom.