One of the things I love most about the ACTAI community is how effortlessly it brings together extraordinary minds from around the world, athletes, conservationists, technologists, artists, and innovators each with their own spark, united by curiosity and purpose.
While the ACTAI group was in Sydney for SXSW, we had the incredible opportunity to go behind the scenes of Australia’s quantum frontier. Together with Bill Tai, we visited Professor Michelle Simmons and her team at Silicon Quantum Computing (SQC), a lab quietly shaping the future of technology from the atomic level up.
Professor Simmons, Australian of the Year and one of the world’s leading quantum physicists, shared how her team is building the world’s first atomically precise quantum processors using silicon.
Unlike classical computers that process information in ones and zeros, quantum systems operate in superposition, meaning they can perform countless calculations at once. The result is a step-change in computing power that could soon transform everything from encryption and cybersecurity to medicine, materials science, and clean energy.
As Bill Tai and Professor Simmons explored during the session, quantum computing is no longer decades away, it’s happening now. The team’s work is already being applied to challenges like:
Walking through the facility felt like stepping into the future. We saw how the team is fabricating chips atom by atom, with precision tools they’ve designed and built themselves. Each process is so refined that new chip iterations can be designed, built, and tested within a single week, a pace unheard of in traditional semiconductor manufacturing.
Perhaps most fascinating was hearing about the concept of quantum twins, physical replicas of molecular systems that allow scientists to model nature itself at the atomic scale. It’s hard not to feel a sense of wonder watching the boundaries of what’s possible being rewritten in real time.
Beyond the science, what made the day so special was the connection. Standing together, entrepreneurs, investors, and scientists from around the world, inside an Australian lab that’s pioneering quantum breakthroughs reminded me why communities like ACTAI exist.
We come together to learn, to exchange ideas, and to spark new collaborations that bridge disciplines and geographies. This visit was a perfect example of that in action.
It’s moments like these that remind me how important it is to stay curious, stay connected, and keep leaning into what’s next.
Watch the recording of the live stream on ACTAI Global's Gigaverse Community here.