Google’s Head of Quantum Computing Hardware Leaves

John Martinis, a key figure on Google’s Quantum Computing Programme has resigned from Google. We first were tipped off to this earlier this week, when a canny observer spotted that the BCI summit talk, where he is speaking later today, titled him as “ex Google AI Quantum”.

Martinis is a physicist who worked at both Google and the University of California, Santa Barbara. As leader of Google’s quantum computer efforts, he spent many years honing the hardware that underpins the firm’s quantum computer. Martinis will retain his position as a professor at the UC Santa Barbara, which he held throughout his tenure at Google, and says he will continue to work on quantum computing.

 “Since my professional goal is for someone to build a quantum computer, I think my resignation is the best course of action for everyone”

Hartmut Neven will continue to lead Google’s Quantum programme. He previously noted that Martinis used to be a mountain climber, and that he applies that same careful, deliberate approach to building hardware, in which every sequence of moves must be thought out in advance.

“John’s idea of a relaxing Sunday is to go into the lab and solder something together…Martinis has many more ideas he’s hoping to pursue.”