Synthetic Minds | The Arrival of the Quantum Era

The Majorana Qubit: The Start of the Quantum Age

My Latest Article

For decades, quantum computing has felt like Schrödinger’s breakthrough, both imminent and impossibly far away. Microsoft’s Majorana 1 chip just changed that.

Microsoft’s Majorana 1 introduces a new type of qubit, powered by topoconductors, a material designed to stabilize quantum states. Unlike today’s error-prone qubits, these Majorana-based qubits could scale up to one million per chip, making quantum computing practical for real-world industrial applications.

If they’re right, we’re looking at a quantum revolution within years, not decades. Microsoft’s approach has already attracted DARPA’s backing, positioning it among the few companies capable of delivering fault-tolerant, utility-scale quantum computing.

If quantum computers can simulate nature with perfect accuracy, what problems would you solve first? Is this the true dawn of the quantum era, or just another step on a long road?

Synthetic Snippets from the World's Best Futurist

Quick, curated insights to feed your quest for a better understanding of our evolving synthetic future. The below is just a small selection of my daily updates that I share via The Digital Speaker app. Download and subscribe today to receive real-time updates. Use the coupon code SynMinds24 to receive your first month for free.

1. ELON MUSK’S AI PROPAGANDA MACHINE, THE REAL DANGER NO ONE SEES

Who really owns your mind? Elon Musk’s Grok 3 isn’t just a chatbot; it’s an AI weapon of influence, seamlessly integrated into X. Research shows biased AI can shift beliefs, even when we resist. With misinformation scaling exponentially, Grok 3 amplifies Musk’s worldview, blurring the line between free speech and manipulation. In an AI-driven world, who controls the narrative? (Gary Marcus)

2. THE MOON JUST GOT CELL SERVICE, BUT DO WE REALLY NEED IT?

Before astronauts return to the moon, Nokia’s 4G network will land first. This month, Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 mission deploys a lunar “network in a box,” boosting connectivity for rovers and future explorers. But with astronomers warning of interference and legal questions looming, one thing is clear; before we colonize space, we need to decide what infrastructure truly matters. (MIT Technology Review)

3. DEMOCRACY.EXE HAS STOPPED WORKING; AI IS IN CHARGE NOW

Who needs Congress when you have AI? Musk’s vision for government automation is here and he is replacing bureaucracy with algorithms, whether voters like it or not. As head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), he’s using AI to cut jobs, control budgets, and filter policies. But if AI decides the rules, who ensures transparency, accountability, and democracy itself? (The New Yorker)

4. CRACKING THE CODE: THE MASSIVE PROJECT TO DECODE EVERY HUMAN GENE

We mapped the human genome but we don’t know what most of it does. The MorPhiC Consortium, led by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), aims to change that by systematically switching off genes with CRISPR to decode their functions. Unlocking this knowledge could revolutionize medicine, but as gene editing shifts from curing to enhancing, one question looms: where do we draw the line? (Singularity Hub)

5. THE INTERNET IS BROKEN, AND WE’RE LETTING IT HAPPEN

The internet once felt limitless. Now it’s a maze of paywalls, tracking, and AI junk. Welcome to enshittification, where once-great platforms decay into profit-driven mediocrity. Search buries answers under ads, streaming is a fragmented mess, and even PDFs are worse. Big Tech exploits users, but here’s the question: can we reclaim the internet, or is this decline irreversible? (Ars Technica)

Bring the World's Best Futurist to Your Next Event – Let’s Talk!

We’re entering a world where intelligence is synthetic, reality is augmented, and the rules are being rewritten in front of our eyes. In Synthetic Minds, I dive deep into these shifts, and I can bring these thought-provoking insights and actionable strategies to your next event. Recognized as the world's top futurist by Global Gurus and a Leading AI Voice by Salesforce, I help audiences think bigger, adapt faster, and embrace the future with confidence. Let’s talk. Just hit reply to book me for your next event!

Stay connected:

• Twitter: @VanRijmenam
• LinkedIn
• Speaker Website
• Grab my latest books: Future Visions and Step into the Metaverse
• Download The Digital Speaker app

Enjoyed my content? An Amazon review or Google review would mean a lot! 🌟

Thanks for reading!

— Mark