President’s Council of Advisors on Science & Technology Outlines Near-Term Focus on Quantum Computing & AI as Prime Industries of Future

(NextGov.com) The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), held its first working meeting this week, outlining its near-term focus on quantum computing and artificial intelligence as the prime industries of the future.
As the committee begins its work, its members suggested narrowing the initial focus to AI and quantum, as “these were considered the highest priority,” according to Subcommittee Chair Dario Gil, director of IBM Research.
The subcommittee offered a set of recommendations for the federal government to assist these efforts. “For instance, creating a national network of quantum computing user facilities. This would jumpstart quantum algorithm and application development and quantum computer science; make a critical scientific and computational resource available to scientists at U.S. national laboratories and universities; and serve as a market-making catalyst for accelerated growth in the U.S. industry producing quantum hardware and software.”