Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan Is Impressed By Photonic Quantum Computing – Says He Now Leans on AI Agents to Do His “Homework” - Wccftech

Intel's CEO Lip-Bu Tan Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan believes that for quantum computing to be viable, companies have to address market areas with actual demand. The executive discussed quantum computing and how he uses artificial intelligence, among other topics, in the QuantumJane podcast, where he revealed that he had actually invested in quantum computing companies with his own funds instead of the funds of a venture capital firm that he ran. Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan Silicon Carbide, Indium Phosphide, Microfluidic Cooling & Artificial Diamonds Might Turn Out To Be Technologies Of The Future Tan started the discussion by outlining how he has come to rely on agentic AI. The Intel CEO has been quite optimistic about agentic AI, and in the firm's earnings calls, has been hopeful about its ability to spur demand for CPUs in the ongoing buildout of AI infrastructure. When asked how he uses AI, Tan outlined that while he can't recall how many AI agents he uses, he nevertheless relies on them to "do all the homework." Related Story Intel’s LGA 1954 Socket Parts Surface On AliExpress For $16 As Nova Lake-S Production Edges CloserThen, the first thing in the morning he does is to look at the agents' progress. Calling agents "amazing," the Intel CEO added that it helps him reduce the number of assistants needed to do his research. As opposed to 'traditional' AI, which typically refers to large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and Grok, agentic AI relies on autonomous decision-making to set goals and execute actions. These models are quite pricey, with SpaceXAI's Grok Bot available as part of bundles costing up to $300 per month. A screen grab from SpaceXAI's website showing its agent offering. Image: xai.com Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan Used His Own Money To Invest In Quantum Computing Companies With the conversation shifting to quantum computing, Tan outlined that the first quantum computing he had invested in was IonQ. IonQ calls itself a trapped ion quantum computing firm. Instead of relying on artificial qubits for quantum computing, the firm uses naturally occurring atoms as qubits suspended in a vacuum. Through this approach, IonQ claims that it can enable qubits to hold their fragile states for longer and perform more complex calculations. It also believes that the approach can significantly reduce the cooling costs required to run the quantum computing processors and reduce the number of logic gates needed to complete operations. In quantum or classical computing, logic gates are operations that take an input and process it into an output. Commenting on his investment in IonQ, Tan outlined that after the firm's founder, a Korean entrepreneur, reached out to him, Tan thought the concept of trapped ions was interesting. IonQ relies on using a laser to transform neutral Ytterbium atoms into positive ions by removing an electron. Once his interest was piqued, the Intel CEO then started to personally invest in the stock since he was unsure about the returns. After IonQ listed on the stock market, Tan sold half of his investment. He added that he continues to keep track of what the firm is doing. IonQ European Innovation Center - Arlesheim, Switzerland (Photo: Business Wire) Intel CEO Asserts Market Demand Is Key For Quantum Computing's Success Just as IonQ relies on Ytterbium atoms to act as qubits, PsiQuantum relies on particles of light called photons as qubits. Given the firm's approach, which relies on traditional microprocessor manufacturing lines to produce its silicon photonic chips, it's unsurprising that Tan also invested in the firm. Intel's former CEO Patrick Gelsinger also has a relationship with PsiQuantum as he is General Partner at Playground Global - an early stage investor in the firm. Among other advantages, PsiQuantum's photon-based quantum computing removes the need for signal converters and enables data transfers through fiber. It also operates faster than trapped ions and doesn't require cooling except for the photon detectors, which must be cryogenically cooled. Tan noted the benefits and remarked that through using photons, you "can really address the direction and position very well and you can networking much better." He also believes this approach is much more scalable, which then led him to invest in the firm and then join the board after his friend, former Xilinx CEO Victor Peng, decided to become CEO on a permanent basis. Finally, on the software front, the Intel CEO touted Israeli firm Classic, a quantum software engineering company. Commenting that "they want to be the next Cadence to quantum computing," Tan outlined that they have clear customer and target market visibility through applications covering the chemistry, medical and other sectors. Insisting that "at the end of the day, if you're going to scale it's based on what application," Tan remarked that "if you can find the right application, I think there's a great chance." Another aspect of the firm that left him impressed was its integration of classical and quantum computing to tackle problems. The hybrid quantum computing approach is also championed by AMD. Image: AMD When asked about what other emerging technologies he was interested in, Tan had a long list. He listed Silicon Carbide and Indium Phosphide in an era where CMOS is approaching its limitations. CMOS, short for Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor, is the backbone of modern-day semiconductor fabrication. But with limitations such as low tolerance of temperatures higher than 150 C and the inability to tolerate high voltages, the two new technologies are gaining prominence as alternatives. Not satisfied with only the technologies for next-generation semiconductor fabrication, Tan also remarked that microfluidic cooling and artificial diamonds are among his other interests. Microfluidic cooling is revolutionary when it comes to cooling data centers, when compared to traditional chips, as it directly etches the microscopic cooling channels into the die, which brings the cooling fluid significantly closer to the active transistors. Artificial diamonds are another material growing relevant to semiconductor fabrication. They significantly outperform traditional materials in parameters such as thermal conductivity and breakdown resistance. About the author: Ramish is a seasoned technology writer and editor with more than a decade of experience. He specializes in semiconductor fabrication and market analysis. With a background in finance and supply chain management - via his bachelors in Finance and a micromasters in supply chain management from MIT - Ramish combines financial rigor with deep industry insight to deliver accurate and authoritative coverage. Follow Wccftech on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds.