Latin America Enters the Race for Quantum Computing and AI Leadership with a Company Founded by an Argentine
Apr 20, 2024
The initiative is driven by /q99, a company that projects investments of over $100 million USD in the region over the next five years and aims to lead the global convergence between quantum computing and AI.
/q99 is the startup created by Argentine Facundo Díaz, who successfully brought together an interdisciplinary team of scientists and technology professionals to promote the creation of an ecosystem that enhances the development of these technologies in Latin America.
The company is already venturing into key fields with high-impact projects: from transforming companies and businesses through hyper-personalization of products and prices, to eradicating diseases through advances in medicine, and innovating in sustainability by developing hyper-efficient value and supply chains with a positive impact on the environment. In the financial sector, they are developing automated investment portfolio models capable of optimizing returns while minimizing risks.
"Latin America joined the AI revolution late, a technology dating back to 1950, but it can still be a leader in Quantum Computing. At /q99, we aim to develop a research and collaboration ecosystem to fully exploit the possibilities offered by this convergence of AI, Machine Learning, and quantum computing. We seek, support, and incubate projects. With more than 30 patents in development, our approach aims to drive innovation and develop talent in the region through partnerships with companies and universities to lead the next technological revolution," said Díaz.
The classical computing we use today, based on bits, is limited by its binary nature. Quantum computing, with qubits, is exponentially faster, processing complex calculations in seconds that would take centuries in classical systems. This capability greatly expands the potential of AI and Machine Learning, enabling unprecedented learning and solution generation.
The future is entirely transformative; it’s a different kind of computing than what we currently know, with the ability to change the rules of the game and disrupt how we interact, cure diseases, and impact fields such as finance, health, cybersecurity, marketing, and eventually even weaponry.
Therefore, it is crucial to start moving now, but not with isolated entrepreneurs or actions—what is truly needed is the creation of an ecosystem of researchers, scientists, universities, and of course, companies and customers. If we start creating that ecosystem in Latin America now, the potential is enormous; we can become a significant player in leading this technology, and that’s what we want to promote at /q99.
Blockchain technology is an example where Argentina was a leader and pioneer. While this is somewhat more complex, we still have time. It is a long-term vision and business, but in the short term, we know that it is necessary to invest in and promote that ecosystem, and that is what we have set out to do.
The Future of Quantum Technology and Its Relevance to the Region, According to Díaz
Díaz comments: "Most companies fail to utilize more than 90% of their data, using management software that only generates predefined results. In the era of AI, and especially when combined with quantum computing, this approach becomes obsolete," he added.
"Our first development is an engine that captures and synchronizes vast amounts of internal and external data with AI models and quantum computing power. Once trained, these systems can manage any business process more quickly, efficiently, and sophisticatedly than the best current software on the market," Díaz stated.
With projected investments of over $100 million USD in the next five years and agreements with global leaders in quantum computing, this young startup is already emerging as a key player in the technological and economic advancement of the region.