avatarClarissa AL Lee

Summary

The web content is a retrospective compilation of the author's articles on quantum technologies written throughout 2023, which reflect on the intersection of quantum technologies with AI, ethics, design fiction, and societal implications.

Abstract

The author presents a curated list of their 2023 publications on Medium, focusing on the multifaceted aspects of quantum technologies. The articles delve into the relationship between quantum technologies and AI, addressing common misunderstandings and the importance of considering them together. The author explores the challenges of democratizing technological knowledge and the complexities of egalitarianism in technology. After a two-month hiatus, during which the author moved across continents and explored other interests, the focus returned to quantum technologies with a piece on design fiction and the history of quantum information, drawing on the famous Schrödinger's cat thought experiment. The final article of the year, which received significant recognition on Medium, discusses the queerness of quantum physics and its implications for quantum technologies. The author also revisits an earlier work on speculative code and virtual reality in emergent science, which had initially been published in a now-defunct scholarly e-zine. The collection of articles not only traces the author's personal journey with quantum technologies but also sets the stage for future projects and creative interventions in the lead-up to the 2025 International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.

Opinions

  • The author believes that AI and quantum technologies should not be assessed in isolation but rather as interconnected fields with significant implications for the present and future.
  • There is a perceived difficulty in making technology truly egalitarian and democratic, suggesting that while the goal is noble, the execution is complex.
  • The author values the role of design fiction in exploring the implications of quantum technologies, using it as a tool to bridge the gap between scientific experiments and their societal impact.
  • The article that was "boosted" on Medium reflects the author's view that quantum physics' non-conformity to classical rules has profound effects on the development and perception of quantum technologies.
  • The republishing of the article on speculative code demonstrates the author's commitment to ensuring that important works remain accessible despite the transient nature of some publishing platforms.
  • The author expresses satisfaction with the body of work produced in 2023, viewing it as a foundation for upcoming projects and anticipates that the excitement of these projects will be reflected in future writings.
  • The author is planning creative interventions for the next year's articles, indicating an intent to innovate and diversify the discourse around quantum technologies in society.

Quantum Technologies: articles of 2023

Preparing the ground for 2024 and onward

Photo by Alex wong on Unsplash

Since 2023 is coming to an end, I have decided that now is a good time to make a list of all quantum technologies relevant articles I have written this year that looked at quantum technologies across different perspectives. Here they are:

1.This was the first article I wrote when I was still green and making a bunch of publication related mistakes on Medium. It was inspired by my having participated in a workshop on responsible quantum technologies and the whole she-bang relating to how quantum technologies compare to AI.

2.This was the second article I wrote when I was still figuring out whether it is worth publishing a research piece on Medium. The preamble in the article explains where it came from, but in the final published version on Medium, it became a speculative ethics piece.

You might have noticed from the dates of both articles that they came out in August 2023 before I took a two-month break from writing on the topic. Well, I was moving a lot and even moved across continents. Since Medium is a space for experimentation, I thought I should write on other topics to since I do have other interests and other facets to me (see this, this, this, this, this and this) while figuring out my research direction on quantum technologies. And November was a lot of research planning and development, as well as book writing.

Then, December came, and two articles dropped. Both from older work I have reprised and reworked for present projects.

3. This one is on design fiction and the history of quantum information, which plays with the motif of everyone’s favorite cat story.

4. And this one is the real kicker that is the crown jewel after the first three attempts. It even got boosted on Medium.

Although this next article is not part of the quartet, it was actually part of a series of work I was developing that also inspired articles 2, 3, and 4. I decided to republish it on Medium after the original scholarly e-zine that published it became defunct (ah, the beauty of obsolescence).

All in all, I am quite pleased with the end result as they represent not just my own history with quantum technologies, but also lay the foundation for more work along such directions. As I am going to be involved in some rather exciting projects relating to quantum technologies next year, I am sure that the effects will show up in my writings. In addition, I am planning some creative interventions for next year’s batch of articles that I refer to as Quantum Technologies in the Social World, although some of the creative interventions could only show up as snapshots on Medium. As we are a year away from the 2025 International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, there is much to look forward to in the lead up.

Quantum Computing
Physics
Future
Philosophy
Design
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