The ambitious plans were announced this week by President Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio following Kishida’s Official Visit to the White House.

While the leaders affirmed their commitment across a broad range of areas including defence, climate, development, and humanitarian efforts, the new technology collaborations took centre stage and underscore how the US-Japan alliance is evolving into a comprehensive global partnership underpinned by innovation.

AI takes centre stage

One of the headline initiatives is a $110 million partnership between the University of Washington, University of Tsukuba, Carnegie Mellon University, and Keio University. Backed by tech giants like NVIDIA, Arm, Amazon, and Microsoft—as well as Japanese companies—the program aims to solidify US-Japan leadership in cutting-edge AI research and development.

The US and Japan also committed to supporting each other in establishing national AI Safety Institutes and pledged future collaboration on interoperable AI safety standards, evaluations, and risk management frameworks.

In a bid to mitigate AI risks, the countries vowed to provide transparency around AI-generated and manipulated content from official government channels. Technical research and standards efforts were promised to identify and authenticate synthetic media.

Quantum leaps

Quantum technology featured prominently, with the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) partnering with Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) to build robust quantum supply chains.

Trilateral cooperation between the University of Chicago, University of Tokyo, and Seoul National University was also announced to train a quantum workforce and bolster competitiveness.  

The US and Japan additionally welcomed new commercial deals including Quantinuum providing Japan’s RIKEN institute with $50 million in quantum computing services over five years.

Several semiconductor initiatives were unveiled such as potential cooperation between Japan’s Leading-edge Semiconductor Technology Center (LSTC) with the US National Semiconductor Technology Center and National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program. The countries pledged to explore joint semiconductor workforce development initiatives through technical workshops.

Other announced commercial deals spanned cloud computing, telecommunications, batteries, robotics, biotechnology, finance, transportation and beyond—highlighting how the alliance is fusing public and private efforts.

Developing humans

Initiatives around STEM education exchanges, technology curriculums, entrepreneur programs, and talent circulation efforts emphasised the focus on developing human capital to power the coming wave of digital innovation.

While the technological breakthroughs grab attention, the proliferation of initiatives aimed at training, exchanging, and nurturing the innovators, researchers, and professionals across these domains could prove just as vital. The US and Japan appear determined to strategically develop and leverage human resources in lockstep with their efforts to establish cutting-edge AI, quantum, chip, and other advanced tech capabilities.

Both nations clearly recognise that building complementary ecosystems across vital technologies is essential to bolstering competitiveness, economic prosperity, and national security in an era of intensifying strategic competition.

(Photo by Tong Su)

See also: Microsoft AI opens London hub to access ‘enormous pool’ of talent

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The new Memorandum of Understanding on compute was signed in Ottawa by UK Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan and Canadian Minister for Innovation, Science and Industry François-Phillippe Champagne. It cements the two countries’ partnership on AI by committing them to explore ways to give researchers and companies affordable access to the high-powered computing capacity required for cutting-edge AI systems.

Compute power and data are essential ingredients for developing modern AI models and applications. As AI rapidly advances, access to state-of-the-art computing infrastructure is increasingly vital for conducting groundbreaking research and staying globally competitive. The UK-Canada agreement recognises this and aims to foster joint innovation by improving compute access.

Specifically, under the new agreement, the UK and Canada will look at opportunities for collaborating on providing compute power for shared research priorities like biomedicine. They also intend to work together – and with like-minded countries – on sustainable models for sharing compute capabilities. 

The compute agreement builds on a wider UK-Canada science and technology partnership also renewed during Secretary Donelan’s visit. This partnership identifies quantum computing, AI, semiconductors and clean energy as key areas for increased collaboration between British and Canadian researchers. It also focuses on coordinating scientific diplomacy efforts relating to new technologies.

Academics and researchers from both countries have been actively involved in collaborative programs, with £350 million awarded by UK Research and Innovation between 2020 and 2023. This includes pioneering initiatives like the first industry-led partnership on quantum technologies and a project on arctic ecosystems in collaboration with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.

The latest accords reinforce the two countries’ “unique partnership” across science and innovation, said Secretary Donelan. She emphasised their commitment to harnessing emerging technologies as an “active force for good.”

Minister Champagne echoed this, saying the agreements will have “positive impacts across all fields of research and innovation.” He highlighted opportunities to link leading AI researchers in both countries.

The renewal of UK-Canada science ties comes as Secretary Donelan meets with AI experts and companies during a three-day visit. She held discussions on the future of AI with Yoshua Bengio, a pioneer in the field and recipient of the Turing Award, computing’s highest honour.

With a combined $5 trillion economy, the UK and Canada have committed to collaborating closely on technological innovation for the benefit of both countries and the wider world. The compute accord marks an important step toward realising that vision in the critical field of AI.

(Photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash)

See also: Financial services introducing AI but hindered by data issues

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GlobalData highlights a 14 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) increase in related patent filings from 2020 to 2022, underscoring the vast influence and potential of quantum AI across industries.

Adarsh Jain, Director of Financial Markets at GlobalData, emphasises the transformative nature of Quantum AI:

“Quantum AI represents a transformative advancement in technology. As we integrate quantum principles into AI algorithms, the potential for speed and efficiency in processing complex data sets grows exponentially. This not only enhances current AI applications but also opens new possibilities across various industries. 

The surge in patent filings is a testament to its growing importance and the pivotal role it will play in the future of AI-driven solutions.”

Kiran Raj, Practice Head of Disruptive Tech at GlobalData, highlights that while AI thrives on data and computational power, the inner workings of the technology often remain unclear. Quantum computing not only promises increased power but also potentially provides greater insights into these workings, paving the way for AI to transcend its current capabilities.

GlobalData’s Disruptor Intelligence Center analysis reveals significant synergy between quantum computing and AI innovations, leading to revolutionary impacts in various industries. Notable collaborations include HSBC and IBM in finance, Menten AI’s healthcare advancements, Volkswagen’s partnership with Xanadu for battery simulation, Intel’s Quantum SDK, and Zapata’s collaboration with BMW.

Raj concludes with a note of caution: “Quantum AI offers the potential for smarter, faster AI systems, but its adoption is complex and demands caution. The technology is still in its early stages, requiring significant investment and expertise.

“Key challenges include the need for advanced cybersecurity measures and ensuring ethical AI practices as we navigate this promising yet intricate landscape.”

(Photo by Anton Maksimov 5642.su on Unsplash)

See also: Google expands partnership with Anthropic to enhance AI safety

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The UK is Europe’s AI leader. Indeed, behind the US and China, the country’s tech sector overall has the third-highest amount of VC investment in the world – more than Germany and France combined – and has produced more than double the number of $1 billion tech firms than any other European country.

Gerard Grech, CEO of Tech Nation, said:

“As a nation uniquely positioned between two economic powerhouses, the US and the EU, we must harness innovative regulation that will enable us to propel ourselves as an international hub and leader for AI, quantum computing, and deep tech.

This is a critical step towards creating a distinctive, value-driven tech ecosystem in the UK, setting us apart from other tech hubs.”

To support British startups, an ‘AI Sandbox’ was announced by the chancellor. The sandbox features a number of initiatives designed to encourage AI research and investment.

Among them is a prize pot containing millions of pounds. £1 million will be up for grabs every year over the next decade for the best AI innovations created by teams and individuals.

Ludovico Lugnani, Technology Solicitor at BDB Pitmans, comments:

“Following yesterday’s news of Open AI’s launch of its upgraded GPT-4 chatbot, the Budget’s announcement as to the creation of an AI sandbox offers a promising outlook for the UK to speed up the arrival of AI products to market.

As part of this, particular emphasis should be placed on providing effective guidance as to the implications of copyright law on generative AI applications following the recent claim by Getty Images against Stability AI over breach of copyright.”

Elsewhere, £2.5 billion is being ploughed into advancing quantum computing. The powerful machines will enable a literal “quantum leap” in AI.

“The power that AI’s complex algorithms need can be provided by quantum computing,” the chancellor told the Commons.

£900 million is also being invested to create an exascale supercomputer that will be several times more powerful than the country’s biggest computers and advance not just AI research, but also science, healthcare, defense, weather modelling, and more.

“[The supercomputer] should be a huge boost to the UK’s ability to support cutting-edge research in areas requiring complex modelling and simulations, such as climate change, pharmaceutical development and hi-tech engineering,” commented Nick White, Partner at law firm Charles Russell Speechlys.

Only one exacomputer is currently known to exist. The computer, known as Frontier, is housed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, United States.

Other relevant announcements in the Spring Budget are targeted less at the AI industry specifically but aim to solidify the UK’s ranking as the second-best country after the US to invest and launch a business.

Under the ‘Full Expensing’ plans, companies investing in R&D and IT equipment to boost growth will benefit. Every pound a company spends on new IT equipment and machinery can be deducted in full from taxable profits.

The independent OBR (Office for Budget Responsibility) says the measure will increase business investment by three percent every year. The chancellor has committed to the measure for the next three years but intends to make it permanent “as soon as we can responsibly do so”.

Furthermore, smaller businesses will also have an increased annual investment allowance of up to £1 million. This means that 99 percent of SMEs will be able to deduct the full value of all their investments from taxable profits.

Matt Hammond, Founder of Talk Think Do, said:

“I wholly welcome the tax savings on IT investments, research and development as announced in today’s budget. In recent years, Talk Think Do has benefitted substantially from the R&D relief and as a result, we have been able to reinvest the extra cash directly into hiring sector-leading talent.  

R&D relief has helped to accelerate our expansion by over 750 percent in just four years. We are a successful example of how the relief has encouraged greater innovation in UK businesses and has unlocked significant growth opportunities. Today’s update benefits the economy at large and so I am glad to see this has been considered in the budget.”

The creation of 12 investment zones is set to further boost the UK’s tech credentials and spread opportunity across the country.

Eight have been announced in England and will be around research institutions in the East Midlands, Greater Manchester, Liverpool, North East, South Yorkshire, Tees Valley, West Midlands, and West Yorkshire.

Four more will be in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. These investment zones, based in the UK’s devolved administrations, will be announced by the end of the year.

Rikke Wichmann Bruun, CEO of MRM UK, commented:

“The announcement of investment into technology – including green technology – through the 12 investment zones presents a great opportunity for businesses and brands in the UK.

The ambition to transform Britain into the ‘next Silicon Valley’ also echoes new research conducted by our agency which found that Brits are the most optimistic about technology’s potential, in comparison to other Europeans.”

Cambridge, Oxford, and London – the so-called ‘golden triangle’ – are often seen as Europe’s closest rivals to Silicon Valley. Each city benefits from world-leading universities and research institutions that help to produce innovative startups and address global talent shortages.

The three cities are based in southern England and have historically benefited more from investment compared to the rest of the UK. Other cities – including Edinburgh and Manchester – have attracted increased investment in recent years, but it’s hoped the new zones will close the gap and unlock the potential across every region of the UK.

“Predictions that inflation will fall to 2.9 percent by the end of 2023 will be very welcome and there were a range of measures announced to boost the economy, including 12 new regional investment zones and a new policy to replace the ‘Super Deduction’,” said Stuart Haynes, Corporate and Commercial Partner at law firm Aaron & Partners.

“There are some fantastic tech innovators in this country and it’s pleasing to see the chancellor really get behind this sector to be a catalyst for economic growth.”

(Image Credit: Zara Farrar / HM Treasury under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license)

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The company’s roster of accelerated computing kits now exceeds 150 and supports the almost three million developers in NVIDIA’s Developer Program.

Four of the major new SDKs are:

• ReOpt – Automatically optimises logistical processes using advanced, parallel algorithms. This includes vehicle routes, warehouse selection, and fleet mix. The dynamic rerouting capabilities – shown in an on-stage demo – can reduce travel time, save fuel costs, and minimise idle periods.
• cuNumeric – Implements the popular NumPy application programming interface and enables scaling to multi-GPU and multi-node systems with zero code changes.
• cuQuantum – Designed for quantum computing, it enables large quantum circuits to be simulated faster. This enables quantum researchers to simulate areas such as near-term variational quantum algorithms for molecules, error correction algorithms to identify fault tolerance, and accelerate popular quantum simulators from Atos, Google, and IBM.
• CUDA-X accelerated DGL container – Helps developers and data scientists working on graph neural networks to quickly set up a working environment. The container makes it easy to work in an integrated, GPU-accelerated GNN environment combining DGL and Pytorch.

Some existing AI-related SDKs that have received notable updates are:

• Deepstream 6.0 – introduces a new graph composer that makes computer vision accessible with a visual drag-and-drop interface.
• Triton 2.15, TensorRT 8.2 and cuDNN 8.4 – assists with the development of deep neural networks by providing new optimisations for large language models and inference acceleration for gradient-boosted decision trees and random forests.
• Merlin 0.8 – boosts recommendation systems with its new capabilities for predicting a user’s next action with little or no user data and support for models larger than GPU memory.

Accelerating quantum research

Nvidia has established a partnership with Google, IBM, and a number of small companies, national labs, and university research groups to accelerate quantum research.

“It takes a village to nurture an emerging technology, so Nvidia is collaborating with Google Quantum AI, IBM, and others to take quantum computing to the next level,” explained the company in a blog post.

The first library from the aforementioned new cuQuantum SDK is Nvidia’s initial contribution to the partnership. The library is called cuStateVec and is an accelerator for the state vector simulation method which tracks the full state of the system in memory and can scale to tens of qubits.

cuStateVec has been integrated into Google Quantum AI’s state vector simulator qsim and can be used through the open-source framework Cirq.

“Quantum computing promises to solve tough challenges in computing that are beyond the reach of traditional systems,” commented Catherine Vollgraff Heidweiller at Google Quantum AI.

“This high-performance simulation stack will accelerate the work of researchers around the world who are developing algorithms and applications for quantum computers.”

In December, cuStateVec will also be integrated with Qiskit Aer—a high-performance simulator framework for quantum circuits from IBM.

Among the national labs using cuQuantum to accelerate their research are Oak Ridge, Argonne, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. University research groups include those at Caltech, Oxford, and MIT.

Nvidia is helping developers to get started by creating a ‘DGX quantum appliance’ that puts its simulation software in a container optimised for its DGX A100 systems. The software will be available early next year via the company’s NGC Catalog.

(Image Credit: Nvidia)

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The firm announced last year that it was leading a £10 million government- and industry-funded collaboration with the aim of commercialising quantum computing.

“We are excited to deliver the UK’s first quantum computer and help accelerate the development of practical algorithms and applications,” said Chad Rigetti, CEO of Rigetti Computing, following the announcement.

“By providing access to quantum hardware, the collaboration aims to unlock new capabilities within the thriving UK ecosystem of quantum information science researchers, start-ups, and enterprises who have already begun to explore the potential impact of quantum computing.”

A year on, Rigetti says that it’s completed its first quantum computing system in the UK and plans to make it available for commercial use in early 2022.

Quantum computing shifts away from just the “ones and zeros” of traditional computers in favour of “qubits” that are generated through manipulating electrons or photons and can exist as a superposition of both 1 and 0, resolving one way or the other only when measured. 

Needless to say, it’s no simple task—even down to sufficiently cooling the computer. Google and IBM’s superconducting processors, for example, require placing qubits in huge dilution refrigerators where temperatures are brought down to zero kelvin (-273.15C). Lasers are then typically used to control a variety of qubit types in both ion trap and neutral atom quantum computers.

Rigetti built its quantum computer in a Proteox dilution refrigerator provided by Oxford Instruments.

While building quantum computers is a painstaking process, the pay-off will be worth it.

“The UK is investing in quantum technologies not only to create society-changing products and services but also to grow talent and expertise, create new jobs, and turn outstanding science into economic prosperity,” said Roger McKinlay, challenge director for quantum technologies at UK Research and Innovation.

Quantum computing will prove especially beneficial for AI. While today’s computers can already struggle or fail to process increasingly large and complex datasets, those same problems are expected to be solved in seconds through quantum computing.

Rigetti says that it’s partnering with organisations to identify real-world use cases and deliver scalable, powerful quantum computing technology over the cloud. Services are expected to be available through Rigetti Quantum Cloud Services in early 2022.

(Photo by Joshua Sortino on Unsplash)

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