Nobel Laureate and Tech Giants Form Alliance to Build Mass-Produced Quantum Supercomputers

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Nobel Prize-winning physicist John M. Martinis has teamed up with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and leading semiconductor companies to launch an ambitious initiative to build the world’s first mass-producible quantum supercomputer.

The collaboration, called the Quantum Scaling Alliance, brings together Applied Materials, Synopsys, 1QBit, Quantum Machines, Riverlane, and the University of Wisconsin. Its goal is to transition quantum computing from bespoke, laboratory-scale devices into scalable systems that can be manufactured using the same industrial tools that produce millions of chips for smartphones, laptops, and AI servers.

“Quantum chips have been made in an artisanal way for decades — small batches, one at a time. Now it’s time to move to a standard professional model,” Martinis told Reuters.

Quantum computers exploit qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously, enabling them to perform complex calculations exponentially faster than traditional machines. The alliance aims to overcome one of the key barriers in the field — scaling quantum systems while maintaining stability and error correction.

HPE’s quantum team, led by Masoud Mohseni, is working on the integration of quantum and classical computing systems — a critical step toward achieving large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum machines.

“People think that once you have hundreds or thousands of qubits, you can easily scale to millions. That’s just not true. Each scale brings new challenges,” Mohseni explained.

By uniting expertise in chip manufacturing, software design, and computing architecture, the Quantum Scaling Alliance hopes to create the foundation for commercially viable quantum supercomputers — machines capable of tackling problems in chemistry, medicine, materials science, and cryptography that are currently beyond reach.

Tower Semiconductor Raises Forecasts on AI and Data Center Demand Surge

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Tower Semiconductor, the Israeli-based contract chipmaker, forecast fourth-quarter revenue above market expectations, driven by booming demand for chips used in data centers and AI infrastructure. The announcement sent the company’s U.S.-listed shares up 15%, reaching their highest level in over two decades after a 63% surge this year.

The company said it expects revenue of around $440 million, plus or minus 5%, surpassing analysts’ estimates of $434.4 million, according to LSEG data.

CEO Russell Ellwanger attributed the growth to strong demand for Tower’s analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, which are widely used in automotive, industrial, and communications technologies. He added that the company’s Silicon-Germanium and Silicon Photonics technologies — essential for high-speed optical data transmission — are key growth drivers as global data center expansion accelerates.

Tower also announced an additional $300 million investment to expand its manufacturing capacity and advance next-generation chip capabilities across Israel, the United States, Italy, and Japan.

For the third quarter ended September 30, Tower reported revenue of $395.7 million, slightly above forecasts, and adjusted earnings of 55 cents per share, topping estimates of 54 cents.

The results highlight the semiconductor industry’s ongoing shift toward AI-driven infrastructure, where specialized chips for data transmission and network performance are becoming vital to global tech ecosystems.

Rumble to Acquire Germany’s Northern Data in $767 Million AI Cloud Deal

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Rumble, the U.S.-based video platform that also hosts Donald Trump’s Truth Social, announced on Monday that it will acquire German AI cloud company Northern Data in an all-stock deal worth about $767 million, sending Rumble’s shares up more than 25% in premarket trading.

Under the terms of the agreement, Northern Data shareholders will receive 2.0281 newly issued Rumble Class A shares for each share held, representing a 12.99% discount to Northern Data’s last closing price. The acquisition gives Rumble access to Northern Data’s AI computing arm, Taiga, and its large-scale data center unit, Ardent.

The deal also includes a $150 million GPU-leasing agreement with Tether, the cryptocurrency firm that owns roughly 48% of Rumble, as well as $200 million in tax liability support from Rumble. Upon completion, Rumble will gain control of 22,400 Nvidia GPUs, significantly boosting its AI computing capacity.

Tether, which invested $775 million in Rumble in December 2024, has agreed to become an anchor customer of the combined group, supporting long-term AI infrastructure demand.

Following the merger, Northern Data shareholders will hold 30.4% of the new company, which will operate under Rumble’s name. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, after which Northern Data will delist from the stock market.

Northern Data had withdrawn its 2025 forecast in October amid volatility in the GPU market, but the merger positions both companies to capitalize on rising global demand for AI data centers.