TikTok’s Last Stand, Google’s Quantum Breakthrough and the Cult of Claude

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Last Friday, a panel of federal judges denied TikTok’s petition to overturn the law that could force the ban of the app in the United States. We walk through the judges reasoning and explain why TikTok’s First Amendment argument was unsuccessful. Then, Julian Kelly, the director of quantum hardware at Google Quantum AI, explains how close we are to quantum computers that can solve practical problems. Finally, we talk about a new sentiment sweeping Silicon Valley: affection for the chatbot Claude.

Guest:

• Julian Kelly, director of quantum hardware at Google Quantum AI.

Additional Reading:

• TikTok Faces U.S. Ban After Losing Bid to Overturn New Law

• Quantum Computing Inches Closer to Reality After Another Google Breakthrough

• DealBook Summit Podcast: The A.I. Revolution

Credits

“Hard Fork” is hosted by Kevin Roose and Casey Newton and produced by Whitney Jones and Rachel Cohn. The show is edited by Jen Poyant. Engineering by Alyssa Moxley and original music by Dan Powell, Elisheba Ittoop, Marion Lozano and Sophia Lanman. Fact-checking by Caitlin Love.

Special thanks to Paula Szuchman, Pui-Wing Tam, Dahlia Haddad and Jeffrey Miranda.