The news that a Google quantum computer recently discovered a previously unobserved exotic phase of matter made me wonder whether quantum is going to be the next big accelerator in the cloud, and how much of AI-driven data center buildouts will eventually fuel the advanced workloads of quantum. How are the two related, and how might they feed one another someday? Quantum computers can train AI models faster and reveal complex patterns that could fuel more accurate AI systems, and AI could help reduce the high error rates and optimize performance in quantum computers. Both are heavily focused on hardware, though Quantum more so, and AI requiring a software component to make it usable.

Their potential synergies affect infrastructure decisions today, which is why there’s been a flurry of announcements by Microsoft, Google, Nvidia, and Amazon. They aren’t alone, as network operators and cloud providers are also preparing for quantum in parallel to AI, as reported in RCR Wireless in its Viavi-sponsored “The countdown to Q-Day,” which examines investments in quantum key distribution (QKD), post-quantum cryptography (PQC), and hybrid approaches. Because they don’t want to sacrifice speed, performance, scale, or security, carriers and cloud providers are evaluating practical steps, such as cataloging existing cryptography, testing hybrid systems, modernizing PKI, and evaluating QKD in places where it offers clear benefits. 

Striking a balance between preparing infrastructure for the future and preparing it for the present day isn’t easy, but it’s increasingly necessary. Amazon Web Services is trying to walk that line, announcing a new transatlantic subsea fiber optic cable system that will connect Maryland in the U.S. with County Cork, Ireland. Scheduled to go live in 2028, AWS’s Fastnet is being built to “improve network resilience and ensure uninterrupted cloud and AI services for customers.” David Selby, director of Global Network Infrastructure Development at AWS, told RCR Wireless News, that Fastnet will “strengthen AWS’s ability to maintain continuous operations for customer workloads,” delivering more than 320 Tbps. Using advanced optical switching branching unit technology, Fastnet will offer seamless redirection of data to future landing points as AI, edge, and cloud workloads evolve.