Daily Digest on AI and Emerging Technologies (12 January 2026) – https://pam.int/daily-digest-on-ai-and-emerging-technologies-12-january-2026/

Daily Digest on AI and Emerging Technologies (13 January 2026) – https://pam.int/daily-digest-on-ai-and-emerging-technologies-13-january-2026/

Daily Digest on AI and Emerging Technologies (14 January 2026) – https://pam.int/daily-digest-on-ai-and-emerging-technologies-14-january-2026/

Daily Digest on AI and Emerging Technologies (15 January 2026) – https://pam.int/daily-digest-on-ai-and-emerging-technologies-15-january-2026/

Daily Digest on AI and Emerging Technologies (16 January 2026) – https://pam.int/daily-digest-on-ai-and-emerging-technologies-16-january-2026/

 

Geostrategies

Technology at the Negotiating Table: Can AI Enhance Peace Processes in Africa?

(Jon Temin – CIGI) Artificial intelligence has the potential to be a valuable tool for mediators and diplomats, making their work to end deadly conflicts more effective and efficient. Use cases range from early warning to drafting peace agreement text to monitoring agreement implementation. One of the most promising potential uses is in making peace processes more inclusive, by using AI to gather, analyze and summarize citizens’ perspectives at scale, and then bringing those views to the negotiating table. But with these potential uses come substantial obstacles and risks, notably the limited internet connectivity available to people directly affected by conflict and the relative dearth of online material in African languages for AI tools to learn from and utilize, as well as associated concerns about data and algorithmic bias and data sovereignty. – https://www.cigionline.org/publications/technology-at-the-negotiating-table-can-ai-enhance-peace-processes-in-africa/

China-led digital currency platform surges, challenging dollar-based payments

(Cybernews) Transactions on a new China-led digital currency platform have surged to over $55 billion, a new report shows, the latest sign that efforts to build alternatives to dollar-dependent global payment systems are gaining traction. Data crunched by the Washington-based Atlantic Council showed the prototype ‘mBridge’ platform, which is being tested by central banks in China, Hong Kong, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, had now processed more than 4,000 cross-border transactions. The cumulative $55.5 billion value of those payments represents a roughly 2,500-fold increase since the project’s early days of 2022, with the digital yuan estimated to now account for approximately 95% of the volume. – https://cybernews.com/news/china-digital-currency-platform-surges-challenge-us-dollar-based-payments/

United States and Taiwan Announce $250B Investment Pact to Expand AI and Semiconductor Manufacturing

(AI Insider) The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced a landmark trade and investment agreement with Taiwan, committing Taiwanese semiconductor and technology companies to invest $250 billion directly into U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and related AI production and innovation. The agreement, finalized under the Trump administration, is aimed at strengthening domestic chip capacity and reducing reliance on foreign supply chains, as Taiwan currently produces more than half of the world’s semiconductors. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2026/01/16/united-states-and-taiwan-announce-250b-investment-pact-to-expand-ai-and-semiconductor-manufacturing/

Japan, ASEAN Agree to Cooperate on AI Development

(nippon.com) Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have agreed to work together on developing new artificial intelligence models and preparing related laws. – https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2026011501239/

Eight ways AI will shape geopolitics in 2026

(Atlantic Council) The events of 2025 made clear that the question is no longer whether artificial intelligence (AI) will reshape the global order, but how quickly—and at what cost. Throughout the year, technological breakthroughs from both the United States and China ratcheted up the competition for AI dominance between the superpowers. Countries and companies raced to build vast data centers and energy infrastructure to support AI development and use. The scramble for cutting-edge chips pushed Nvidia’s valuation past five trillion dollars—the first company to reach that milestone—even as concerns mounted over circular financing and the question of how much the AI boom is founded on hype versus reality. Meanwhile, policymakers grappled with the balance between safety, security, and innovation and how to manage possible labor disruptions on the horizon. As 2026 begins, rapid AI integration threatens to inject even more unpredictability into an already fragmented global order. Below, experts from the Atlantic Council Technology Programs share their perspectives on what to expect from AI around the globe in the year ahead. – https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/dispatches/eight-ways-ai-will-shape-geopolitics-in-2026/

Key Trends that Will Shape Tech Policy in 2026

(Just Security) The global technology policy landscape is entering a pivotal year. In the United States, the AI governance debate has evolved from whether to preempt state-level regulation to what a substantive federal framework might actually contain. Internationally, competition between Washington and Beijing is accelerating, with semiconductors and compute capacity now central to national security strategy. The same competitive logic is shaping quantum computing, where the United States, Europe, and China are rethinking national programs while navigating fragile supply chains. As global technology competition intensifies, new security risks are emerging. The first publicly reported AI-orchestrated hacking campaign appeared in 2025, and agentic AI systems are expected to reshape the offense-defense balance in cyberspace in the year ahead. More broadly, as AI diffuses through societies, policymakers must grapple with its implications for democracy, human rights, and the distribution of power between states and their citizens. – https://www.justsecurity.org/128568/expert-roundup-emerging-tech-trends-2026/

Major move: UAE joins US-led Pax Silica alliance to secure AI, chip supply chains

(Justin Varghese – Gulf News) The UAE has joined Pax Silica, a US-led initiative aimed at securing artificial intelligence and semiconductor supply chains, as Washington moves to formalise a small bloc of partners around the critical inputs powering the AI economy. The UAE became the ninth signatory this week, joining a group that includes Australia, Britain, Israel, Japan, Qatar, Singapore and South Korea. India is expected to join the pact next month, according to the US State Department. –  https://gulfnews.com/business/markets/major-move-uae-joins-us-led-pax-silica-alliance-to-secure-ai-chip-supply-chains-1.500409389

U.S. Greenlights Nvidia AI Chip Exports to China in Major Policy Shift

(Sara Khan – Modern Diplomacy) The Trump administration has formally approved the export of Nvidia’s H200 artificial intelligence chips to China, marking a significant shift in U.S. technology export controls after years of restrictions imposed over national security concerns. The H200 is Nvidia’s second most powerful AI chip and had previously been barred from sale to China under policies designed to limit Beijing’s access to advanced computing power. President Donald Trump first announced the decision last month, linking approval to a 25% fee payable to the U.S. government. The move immediately drew criticism from China hawks in Washington, who argue that any loosening of restrictions risks accelerating China’s military and surveillance capabilities. The administration, however, has framed the decision as a pragmatic effort to balance economic competitiveness with national security – https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2026/01/14/u-s-approves-nvidia-h200-ai-chip-exports-to-china-under-tight-conditions-sparking-security-debate/

China’s Embodied AI: A Path to AGI

(CSET) China is embracing “embodied AI”—artificial intelligence integrated with physical agents, such as robots and drones—both for commercial reasons and as a path to artificial general intelligence (AGI). The trend reflects China’s signature approach to AI, which recognizes diverse paths to AI dominance vis-à-vis the large models favored in the United States. This report documents PRC support for AI embodiment, describes how it is understood by China’s research community, and maps out the related infrastructure. – https://cset.georgetown.edu/publication/chinas-embodied-ai-a-path-to-agi/

Governance and Regulation

How Algorithmic Systems Automate Inequality

(James O’Sullivan – Tech Policy Press) The deployment of predictive analytics in public administration is usually justified by the twin pillars of austerity and accuracy. Governments and private entities argue that automated decision-making systems reduce administrative bloat while eliminating the subjectivity of human caseworkers. For example, the Dutch government explicitly framed its automated childcare benefits fraud system as a means of replacing discretionary human judgment with objective, data-driven risk scoring. But the operational reality of these systems suggests a different outcome. Rather than removing bias, they frequently operationalize it, embedding historical inequities into the seemingly neutral architecture of code. For marginalized communities, the threat is not that the technology will fail, but that it will work exactly as designed, scaling up the systemic discrimination that policy is supposed to mitigate – https://www.techpolicy.press/how-algorithmic-systems-automate-inequality/

Gaps and policies in AI- and algorithm-driven discrimination in Europe

(Council of Europe) What are the key challenges in addressing discrimination driven by artificial intelligence and automated decision-making systems? How could governance frameworks be strengthened? What role can public authorities, equality bodies and human rights institutions play in preventing discrimination and ensuring redress? These questions were in focus of a recent online event organised by the Council of Europe. The webinar marked the launch of two new publications, “Legal protection against algorithmic discrimination in Europe: current frameworks and remaining gaps” and “European policy guidelines on AI and algorithm-driven discrimination for equality bodies and other national human rights structures” took place during the webinar. The event and the publications were developed in the context of the project Upholding equality and non-discrimination by Equality bodies regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in public administrations. The project is co-funded by the European Union through the Technical support instrument and implemented by the Council of Europe in co-operation with the European Commission. – https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/gaps-and-policies-in-ai-and-algorithm-driven-discrimination-in-europe

How Switzerland can shape AI in 2026

(DigWatch) Switzerland is heading into 2026 facing an AI transition marked by uncertainty, and it may not win a raw ‘compute race’ dominated by the biggest hardware buyers. In his blog ‘10 Swiss values and practices for AI & digitalisation in 2026,’ Jovan Kurbalija argues that Switzerland’s best response is to build resilience around an ‘AI Trinity’ of Zurich’s entrepreneurship, Geneva’s governance, and communal subsidiarity, using long-standing Swiss practices as a practical compass rather than a slogan. A central idea is subsidiarity. When top-down approaches hit limits, Switzerland can push ‘bottom-up AI’ grounded in local knowledge and real community needs. Kurbalija points to practical steps such as turning libraries, post offices, and community centres into AI knowledge hubs, creating apprenticeship-style AI programmes, and small grants that help communities develop local AI tools. He also cites a proposal for a ‘Geneva stack’ of sovereign digital tools adopted across public institutions, alongside the notion of a decentralised ‘cyber militia’ capacity for defence. – https://dig.watch/updates/how-switzerland-can-shape-ai-in-2026

Platforms restrict access to 4.7 million under-16 accounts across Australia

(eSafety Commissioner) Major social media companies removed access to about 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children under 16 in the first half of December to comply with Australia’s social media minimum age, according to initial figures gathered by eSafety. eSafety’s focus since the minimum age obligation took effect on December 10 has shifted from preparation to monitoring and enforcement, concentrating on platforms assessed as age restricted and identified as having high under-16 usage in Australia. The data released today is an early indication that major platforms are taking meaningful actions to prevent under-16s from holding accounts. – https://www.esafety.gov.au/newsroom/media-releases/platforms-restrict-access-to-47-million-under-16-accounts-across-australia

Security and Surveillance

63% of IT leaders overestimate they chances against hackers. There are 3 reasons why

(Izabelė Pukėnaitė – Cybernews) Many organizations are probably overestimating their ability to recover from cyberattacks. Researchers from Dell have highlighted the “resilience debt,” the gap between how ready to recover from a cyberattack companies think they are, and their actual readiness. It’s bigger than most companies think and creates an extra layer of risk. Resilience debt accumulates when companies heavily focus on preventing attacks but fail to test and update their recovery processes. While this might sound like a problem on paper only, it can result in huge damages and financial losses. Dell’s survey found that 99% of organizations claim to have a formal cyber resilience strategy, but 63% of IT leaders believe that executives are overconfident about their preparedness. – https://cybernews.com/security/hidden-resilience-debt-half-firms-unready-cyberattacks/

Warning: cybercriminals are using blockchain smart contracts to evade takedowns

(Linas Kmieliauskas – Cybernews) A new sophisticated threat in the blockchain world has been uncovered, potentially becoming another blueprint for more decentralized cybercrime infrastructure and the latest ransomware playbook. Researchers at cybersecurity company Group-IB found that DeadLock, a ransomware family discovered in July 2025, is now using smart contracts, or self-executing programs, on the popular Polygon (POL) blockchain to rotate and distribute proxy server addresses. This is similar to what Cybernews reported in October 2025, when security researchers at Google uncovered that a North Korean threat actor uses transactions on public blockchains like Ethereum (ETH) and BNB Chain (BNB) to store and retrieve malicious payloads. – https://cybernews.com/crypto/warning-cybercriminals-blockchain-smart-contracts-evade-takedowns/

Defence and Intelligence

Mass Criticality: Rethinking Critical Infrastructure in the UK

(Aybars Tuncdogan – RUSI) MI6’s new chief, Blaise Metreweli, recently warned that the ‘front line is everywhere’. In a separate speech, the Chief of the Defence Staff, Sir Richard Knighton, argued that ‘our whole nation’ must step up. Taken together, these remarks signal that the UK is now operating in a hybrid threat landscape – ‘a space between peace and war’, as Metreweli put it – where remote cyber operations and local cyber-physical attacks, including some that leverage insider access, sit alongside more traditional military risks. In that hybrid threat landscape, adversaries are likely to reach first for tools that disrupt daily life and economic activity rather than for conventional warfare, which tends to sit higher on the escalation ladder. Yet our current definitions of critical infrastructure, still focused mainly on utilities such as electricity grids and power plants, do not adequately account for the many other bottlenecks that can now be exploited to disrupt society – some of which are so fragile that significant disruptions can occur even without malicious activity. – https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/mass-criticality-rethinking-critical-infrastructure-uk

Frontiers and Markets

Space is Getting Crowded, and Policy Governing Low Earth Orbit is Broken

(Jessica Dine – Tech Policy Press) In November, Google announced Project Suncatcher, a project to harness a constellation of solar-powered satellites to support orbital data centers—in other words, an attempt to power AI from space as resources on Earth grow thin. Amazon, SpaceX, and startups have joined the race as well. Once mostly limited to communications, satellite operators’ ambitions are growing to include data centers, navigation systems, and computing infrastructure—many of which could float just a few hundred miles above our heads in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). In that small slice of the universe, satellite constellations are exploding in size, with SpaceX’s Starlink alone reaching 9,000 satellites by late 2025. Starlink has an application for tens of thousands of new satellites pending before the FCC, and Amazon Leo is now launching as well. Global satellite data capacity reached 27 terabytes in 2023 and is projected to skyrocket to 240 terabytes by 2028, with non-geostationary orbit systems (NGSOs) such as LEOs expected to account for 97 percent of that growth. LEO satellite systems are already connecting households in remote areas where traditional broadband infrastructure is too expensive or impractical to build. On a global scale, their impact has been substantial—such as the free Starlink service being provided in the midst of Iran’s recent internet blackout. They’re powering direct-to-cell services, connecting vehicles in motion, and they may provide a potential source of positioning and timing for infrastructure dependent on GPS. – https://www.techpolicy.press/space-is-getting-crowded-and-policy-governing-low-earth-orbit-is-broken/

Quandela Identifies Four Quantum Computing Trends for 2026

(Quantum Insider) Quandela outlines four trends it expects to define quantum computing’s transition from research to early adoption in 2026, spanning technology, industry use, and security. The company highlights hybrid quantum–classical computing, early industrial pilots, and advances in error correction as signals of maturing, deployable systems. Cybersecurity is positioned as both a risk and an opportunity, with quantum technologies influencing future encryption and national digital security strategies. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2026/01/15/quandela-quantum-computing-trends-2026/

Three GTM Challenges Killing Vertical AI Startups in 2026—And Why Market Shaping GTM Solves All of Them

(Mark M.J. Scott – AI Insider) 2026 is the year vertical AI startups face a brutal paradox: exponentially more funded competitors fighting for the same enterprise budget. While AI startup funding surged 85% in 2025 to $211 billion globally, and Andreessen Horowitz alone just deployed $15 billion into the ecosystem, enterprise IT budgets are growing at only 2% annually. Even more devastating, enterprises are consolidating their AI vendor relationships—spending more on AI but with fewer vendors. This is the math that will kill 99.5% of AI startups before they reach $10 million in revenue. Not because their technology fails, but because the traditional SaaS GTM playbook they inherited—outbound sequences, demo-first sales, top-of-funnel optimization—was designed for a world that no longer exists. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2026/01/17/guest-post-three-gtm-challenges-killing-vertical-ai-startups-in-2026-and-why-market-shaping-gtm-solves-all-of-them/

PsiQuantum and Airbus Collaborate on Fault-Tolerant Quantum Algorithms for Aerospace

(Quantum Insider) PsiQuantum is collaborating with Airbus to develop and evaluate fault-tolerant quantum algorithms for aerospace applications, with a focus on computational fluid dynamics. The partners published research demonstrating quantum lattice Boltzmann methods for simulating incompressible fluid flows under realistic aerodynamic conditions. The work supports Airbus’s QuLAB project and reflects broader efforts to prepare aerospace firms for future fault-tolerant quantum computers. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2026/01/16/psiquantum-and-airbus-collaborate-on-fault-tolerant-quantum-algorithms-for-aerospace/

Is Quantum Moving Faster Than Markets Expected? Bitcoin Rebalance Suggests Changed in Quantum Computing Risk Perception

(Quantum Insider) Jefferies removed Bitcoin from a key Asia-focused portfolio, citing the long-term risk that advances in quantum computing could eventually undermine the cryptography securing the network. The decision reflects a broader institutional shift toward evaluating digital assets based on long-horizon technological resilience rather than near-term price or regulatory factors. While experts disagree on the timeline and severity of quantum threats, the move elevates post-quantum security from a theoretical concern to an active consideration in portfolio construction. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2026/01/16/is-quantum-moving-faster-than-markets-expected-bitcoin-rebalance-suggests-changed-in-quantum-computing-risk-perception/

SEALSQ and Kaynes SemiCon Form Semiconductor Joint Venture in India

(Quantum Insider) SEALSQ and Kaynes SemiCon have signed a term sheet to form a joint venture in India focused on secure semiconductor design, testing, and post-quantum personalization. The JV, SEALKAYNESQ Ltd, plans to establish an OSTP facility integrating PKI and post-quantum cryptography to support India’s national security and semiconductor strategy. SEALSQ will hold a majority stake while licensing its secure and PQC semiconductor IP to the JV, combining cybersecurity expertise with Kaynes SemiCon’s manufacturing capabilities. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2026/01/16/sealsq-kaynes-semicon-jv-india/

New Quantum Sensors Could Transform Communications

(Quantum Insider) A three-year collaboration between National Research Council of Canada and Quantum Valley Ideas Lab has developed Rydberg-atom–based sensors that could improve radio-frequency measurement and communications without traditional metal antennas. The sensors use highly excited Rydberg atoms to directly measure electric fields across a wide frequency range with high precision and stability, functioning as calibration-free dielectric sensors rooted in fixed atomic properties. The work has generated commercial momentum, including the launch of the spin-off company WaveRyde and early prototype testing, supporting Canada’s National Quantum Strategy focus on research translation and commercialization. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2026/01/16/new-quantum-sensors-could-transform-communications/

OpenAI Secures Multi-Year Compute Agreement With Cerebras Valued at Over $10B

(AI Insider) OpenAI has entered a multi-year agreement with AI chipmaker Cerebras Systems to significantly expand its compute capacity, deepening its infrastructure stack as demand for real-time AI continues to surge. Under the deal, Cerebras will supply 750 megawatts of compute beginning in 2026 and running through 2028. A source familiar with the transaction confirmed the agreement is valued at more than $10 billion. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2026/01/16/openai-secures-multi-year-compute-agreement-with-cerebras-valued-at-over-10b/

Symbolic.ai Agrees To News Corp Partnership to Deploy AI Across Dow Jones Newswires

(AI Insider) Symbolic.ai, an AI journalism startup founded by Devin Wenig, former CEO of eBay, and Jon Stokes, co-founder of Ars Technica, has signed a commercial agreement with News Corp to deploy its AI platform across Dow Jones Newswires, the media group’s global financial news service. The partnership marks one of the most substantive production-level AI integrations in a major newsroom to date. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2026/01/16/symbolic-ai-agrees-to-news-corp-partnership-to-deploy-ai-across-dow-jones-newswires/

Konnex Secures $15M to Develop Autonomous Robotics for Physical Labor

(AI Insider) Konnex raised $15 million from a group of venture and strategic investors to build a decentralized framework that allows autonomous robots to be contracted, verified, and paid onchain, positioning physical labor to scale more like software. The round included backing from Cogitent Ventures, Liquid Capital, Leland Ventures, Covey, M77 Ventures, and Block Maven LLC, and will fund platform expansion, hardware integrations, and verification protocols for real-world robotic operations. Konnex aims to move autonomous robots out of closed, proprietary systems into a Robotics-as-a-Service model, targeting industrial, logistics, and other physical work markets it estimates at roughly $25 trillion globally. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2026/01/16/konnex-secures-15m-to-develop-autonomous-robotics-for-physical-labor/

Germany’s Circus and MMV Leasing Enter Strategic Financing Partnership to Scale AI Robotics Systems

(AI Insider) Circus SE is expanding its commercial offering through a new leasing model developed in partnership with MMV Leasing GmbH, a subsidiary of Landesbank Baden-Württemberg, aiming to lower adoption barriers for its AI robotics systems. The leasing structure is designed to reduce upfront capital requirements and allow customers to deploy Circus’s autonomous robotics under flexible financing terms rather than direct purchase. The first leasing and financing agreements under the partnership are expected to take effect in the first quarter of 2026, positioning Circus to broaden enterprise uptake as demand for AI-driven automation grows. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2026/01/16/germanys-circus-and-mmv-leasing-enter-strategic-financing-partnership-to-scale-ai-robotics-systems/

Conversational AI Functionality Gives Healthcare Providers Easy Access to Patient Feedback Data and Trends

(AI Insider) rater8 has launched AI Insights within its raVE platform, adding a conversational AI tool that allows medical practices to query patient feedback data and receive real-time, actionable insights without manual reporting. The tool enables administrators, marketers, and patient experience teams to quickly identify sentiment trends, operational risks, performance gaps, and marketing-ready testimonials using natural-language questions. AI Insights is now included at no additional cost across raVE Lite, raVE Pro, and raVE Pro+ subscriptions, following a preview program with practices reporting faster analysis and clearer staff-level feedback. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2026/01/16/conversational-ai-functionality-gives-healthcare-providers-easy-access-to-patient-feedback-data-and-trends/

Fujitsu and SC Ventures Outline Roadmap for Qubitra Joint Venture

(Quantum Insider) Fujitsu and SC Ventures have announced the roadmap for Qubitra Technologies, a UK-based joint venture building quantum-enabled applications and a marketplace platform for the global quantum ecosystem. Qubitra will focus on high-performance quantum and quantum-inspired applications for financial services, with early deployments and first go-lives expected in 2026. The venture combines Fujitsu’s quantum hardware and software with SC Ventures’ financial services expertise and is headquartered in London with a UK-based leadership team. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2026/01/16/fujitsu-sc-ventures-qubitra-roadmap/

SEEQC to Go Public Through Merger With Allegro Merger Corp.

(Quantum Insider) SEEQC plans to go public through a merger with Allegro Merger Corp., a SPAC transaction that would value the quantum chipmaker at approximately $1 billion. The deal includes a $65 million PIPE financing and would result in SEEQC becoming the publicly traded operating company following the merger’s expected close in the second quarter of 2026. SEEQC develops cryogenic, chip-based control and readout electronics for quantum processors and has worked with government, academic, and industry partners including IBM, NVIDIA, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Rigetti. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2026/01/16/seeqc-to-go-public-through-merger-with-allegro-merger-corp/

Study Shows Quantum Computers Can Compare Meaning in Language Models

(Quantum Insider) A new study shows that quantum computers can be used to compare meaning in language models by estimating semantic similarity on real quantum hardware, demonstrating technical feasibility rather than performance gains. The research maps language representations onto quantum states and uses quan

tum interference effects to approximate similarity, validating the approach through experiments run on existing quantum devices. While the method does not outperform classical techniques and is limited by today’s small, noisy quantum systems, it establishes a concrete experimental foundation for future work at the intersection of quantum computing and language analysis. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2026/01/17/study-shows-quantum-computers-can-compare-meaning-in-language-models/

Physicists Outline Technique to Scale Neutral-Atom Quantum Systems Beyond 100,000 Qubits

(Quantum Insider) Researchers at Columbia University report a metasurface-based optical tweezer platform that provides a realistic path to scaling neutral-atom quantum systems beyond 100,000 qubits. In a paper published in Nature, the team demonstrates trapping 1,000 strontium atoms and shows designs capable of generating more than 360,000 optical tweezers, far exceeding current array-generation methods. The approach replaces bulky beam-shaping hardware with nanofabricated metasurfaces that can handle high laser power, enabling much larger, denser atom arrays limited primarily by available laser power rather than optical complexity. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2026/01/16/physicists-outline-technique-to-scale-neutral-atom-quantum-systems-beyond-100000-qubits/

EeroQ Shows New Approach to Reducing Wiring in Quantum Computing Hardware

(Quantum Insider) EeroQ demonstrated a quantum control chip that transports electrons on superfluid helium over long distances with high fidelity using a minimal number of control wires. The architecture reduces wiring requirements to a few dozen lines and shows a scaling path to roughly one million electron-based qubits. The demonstration, carried out on the Wonder Lake chip fabricated by SkyWater Technology, addresses a major scalability bottleneck in quantum hardware design. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2026/01/16/eeroq-scalable-quantum-control-chip/