NEWS
Xanadu and AMD launch Backline to accelerate quantum-classical computing
Xanadu and AMD have demonstrated classical-to-quantum communication in under three microseconds with an open-source platform aimed at removing a major performance bottleneck in hybrid quantum computing.
Backline connects quantum processors with CPUs, GPUs and FPGAs, enabling the rapid exchange of data required for applications including quantum error correction, network signal processing and high-speed sensing.
Built using Xanadu’ s PennyLane software platform, the technology gives developers low-level hardware control through a high-level Python interface, potentially reducing reliance on specialised infrastructure and proprietary integration frameworks.
Quantum systems depend on classical processors to analyse data and respond within extremely tight latency windows. As quantum hardware scales, this communication layer is becoming increasingly important to the development of practical faulttolerant systems.
Backline treats quantum processors as nodes within heterogeneous high-performance computing environments – its hardware-agnostic architecture allows standard CPUs, adaptive FPGAs and GPUs to work alongside quantum hardware.
Morgan State and Google Public Sector build next-generation AI research campus
Morgan State University is building an AI-driven research campus with Google Public Sector, giving faculty and students access to high-performance GPU computing as the university targets Carnegie R1 research status.
The collaboration, delivered through Google Public Sector’ s Program for Accelerated Research, will provide advanced computing resources for work spanning artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, climate science and health sciences.
Morgan State will combine Google Cloud platforms with NVIDIA infrastructure to support research into large language models, environmental forecasting and cybersecurity. Potential applications include AI-enabled traffic management and urban mobility optimisation in Baltimore.
The initiative will also strengthen
The companies demonstrated that AMD EPYC and Threadripper CPUs could handle demanding low-latency feedback loops without requiring specialised servers or enterprise GPUs.
Christian Weedbrook, founder and CEO, Xanadu, said integrating Backline into PennyLane would provide access to communication layers needed to move quantum technology from laboratory research towards real-world performance.
AMD said a single Python program could span its EPYC and Threadripper CPUs, Instinct GPUs, Versal FPGAs and Pensando networking technology.
The collaboration aims to give researchers, enterprises and hardware manufacturers a more accessible foundation for developing scalable quantum systems while reducing dependence on proprietary quantumclassical integration stacks and accelerating experimentation across emerging fault-tolerant computing architectures.
Morgan State’ s sovereign AI strategy around Obsidian AI, its internally developed platform for research, workforce development and campus innovation. The university said the approach would allow it to retain control over governance, security and accountability while expanding AI across operations.
Timothy C. Summers, Vice President for Information Technology and CIO, Morgan State, said the collaboration was about building the infrastructure and governance needed to use AI“ responsibly and strategically”.
Morgan State will also establish a Google-focused Center of Excellence covering cloud computing, AI adoption, workforce development and technical training. Students will gain access to professional training and industry-recognised credentials.
Cybersecurity capabilities will be expanded through Google Cloud security technologies, including Google SecOps and Mandiant, supporting compliance-intensive federally funded research.
The university said the wider programme could provide a scalable model for Historically Black Colleges and Universities seeking to expand advanced computing capacity, strengthen research capabilities and develop secure, scalable sovereign AI ecosystems across America. www. intelligentcio. com
INTELLIGENT CIO NORTH AMERICA
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