IBM was one of the giants of 20th-century computing. It helped design the modern PC, and created the first AI to defeat a human champion in the game of chess. But when you think of AI, IBM might not be the first, or even the tenth, company to spring to mind. "We are a B2B company, and explaining what we do to the average reader--we'll take all the help we can get," IBM CEO Arvind Krishna joked ahead of a recent interview with TIME. IBM does indeed build AI models--not massive ones like OpenAI's GPT4-o or Google's Gemini, but smaller ones designed for use in high-stakes settings, where accuracy comes at a premium.

Artificial intelligence and quantum computing are the two most disruptive technologies of the 21st century. While the effects of AI will be felt across many industries, it will likely have the biggest impact on healthcare. The implications of quantum computers are even more far-reaching, with potential applications across all sectors. As these technologies continue to develop, they're poised to drastically reshape our world over the next several decades -- so how can businesses stay ahead of this technological revolution? Supercomputers are used in scientific research, military applications and commercial applications. They're also used in education, entertainment and finance.

OpenAI's ChatGPT and picture generating AI systems like MidJourney and Stable Diffusion have got a lot more people interested in advanced AI and talking about it. Which is a good thing. It will not be pretty if the transformative changes that will happen in the next two or three decades take most of us by surprise. One company that has been pioneering advanced AI for longer than most is IBM. One of IBM's most senior executives, Alessandro Curioni, joined the London Futurists Podcast to discuss IBM's current projects in AI, quantum computing, and related areas.

IBM is one of the companies most focused on quantum computing and general artificial intelligence (AI). The advances made by IBM's Watson platform and the quantum computing team out of IBM Research are proof of that leadership. IBM recently announced the massive Osprey, which is one of the most advanced quantum computers in the world. IBM also announced a partnership with Algorithmiq out of Finland that is developing a quantum simulation platform focused initially on health care and materials science. The interesting result should be a significant improvement in related drug discovery efforts that, given quantum computing's massive performance advantage with huge datasets, should help advance new drug development while significantly lowering side effects once finished.

The Hartree National Centre for Digital Innovation (HNCDI), based at the Science and Technology Facilities Council's (STFC) Daresbury Laboratory in the Liverpool City Region, will create vacancies for an additional 60 scientists and opportunities for students to gain invaluable hands-on experience. The centre – a partnership between STFC and IBM – will bring together world-leading expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing to support the application of the cutting-edge technologies in industry and the public sector. Possible industry applications of quantum computing include optimising complex logistics such as picking and packing orders in large warehouses for supermarkets; traffic routing; energy distribution; improving design and manufacturing processes across automotive sectors. The government will invest £172 million over 5 years through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), with an additional £38 million being invested by IBM. Artificial intelligence and quantum computing have the potential to revolutionise everything from the way we travel to the way we shop.

Spending 2020 under the shadow of a pandemic has affected what we need and expect from technology. For many, COVID-19 accelerated the rate of digital transformation: as employees worked from home, companies needed AI systems that facilitated remote work and the computing power to support them. The question is, how should companies focus their resources in 2021 to prepare for this changed reality and the new technologies on the horizon? Here are three trends that I predict will see massive attention in 2021 and beyond. Progress in AI has already reached a point where it can add significant value to practically any business.

The US government is announcing $1 billion in new funding for multidisciplinary AI and quantum computing research hubs today, according to multiple reports. A total of 12 hubs will be funded, each embedded within different agencies of the federal government. The investment is part of a slow push from the White House to fund emerging technologies. Many policy advisors have worried that America is falling behind in AI and quantum research compared to rivals like China, and warn that these technologies are instrumental not only for economic development but also national security. It's extremely difficult to make a fair comparison of US and Chinese spend on technology like AI as funding and research in this area is diffuse.

The White House this morning announced over $1 billion to establish 12 new federal research centers dedicated to AI and quantum sciences. Why it matters: The two fields are among the most important in emerging technology, and the new initiative will help the U.S. assert its international leadership in an increasingly competitive field that will impact everything from national security to climate change. Details: The Department of Energy will move up to $625 million over the next five years to five existing national laboratories to create research centers dedicated to quantum science and computing, with an additional $300 million coming from the private sector and academia. What they're saying: "The future of American prosperity and national security will be shaped by how we invest, research, develop and deploy these cutting-edge technologies today," said U.S. chief technology officer Michael Kratsios. Of note: The new initiative comes on the heels of the establishment last month of three NSF centers dedicated to quantum information science.

The White House has recently announced its plans to invest $1 billion into AI and quantum computing, two very promising tech frontiers. Last year, President Trump's executive order on AI had presented their intention to bolster their dominance in the field. However, these orders failed to address anything on funding and other plans. In February 2020, the Trump administration called for an investment of two billion dollars in non-defense for AI and quantum research by 2022. The new initiative by the house will fund a series of academic and private sector R&D hubs that are linked to federal agencies.

The White House's proposed budget for fiscal year 2021 includes sizable increases in federal funding for AI and quantum computing projects. All told, the overall increase in federal R&D funding is 6% compared to fiscal year 2020, reaching $142.2 billion. Although much of the funding is aimed at R&D and infrastructure investments like $25 million to begin research for a quantum internet, the tenor of the briefing included defense tones. In espousing the need to invest in quantum information science (QIS), an official on the call said the U.S. needs to stay ahead of China and Europe, which are investing in their own quantum computing projects. U.S. CTO Michael Kratsios was clear about American values as they pertain to AI. "I think with regards to some of our adversaries and others around the world [that] utilize this technology, it's imperative that the U.S. continues to lead in technologies like AI," he said.