Andy Rubin Bets On Quantum Computing, AI For The Future

The creator of Android and former Google exec may have left the company, but that doesn't mean he has parted ways with the same dreams that he and the search giant shared and developed over time. When asked "what's next?" for the computing world, Rubin answered that it will be about masses of data and training artificial intelligence. And this will be facilitated by a switch to quantum computing as the next computing platform that will eventually replace the supercomputers that run the world's servers and computing backbone.

Despite having many prominent backers, Google included, quantum computing is still pretty much a niche that remains vague and mysterious to laymen. It is perhaps due to the very nature of quantum physics on which it is based on, which is also hard to understand for most people. Putting theory aside, however, quantum computing promises more, faster, and better computations, which is already enough to make computer scientists swoon.

But quantum computing isn't an end but also a means. That much computing power will be at the service of training and running AI, the second part of Rubin's future vision. That AI, in turn, will naturally drive robotics, which is perhaps the end goal for Rubin. The former Googler was behind many of the company's robotics acquisitions, which are now mostly been seen as a failed venture, at least for Google. Rubin, however, is unfazed. And, in his own words, impatient.

That is why Rubin is putting money where is mouth is. After leaving Google, he formed the incubation and VC firm Playground Global, which has, together with Redpoint Ventures, invested in a quantum computing startup. Rubin believes its high time to put quantum computers into mass production to pull it out of its niche.

Of course, that isn't the only thing Playground Global is investing in. There are a few others, like a wearable backpack speaker, and, of course, something related to mobile. Whether that's related to Android or not, Rubin definitely isn't saying.

SOURCE: Bloomberg