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Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab

The Quantum Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (QuAIL) is a research facility at NASA's dedicated to exploring and advancing technologies to solve complex computational challenges in , optimization, and simulation, particularly for applications in , and space sciences, and . Established in 2012 through a collaboration between , the Universities Space Research Association (USRA), and , the lab initially focused on developing algorithms and hybrid quantum-classical systems to address problems such as , web search optimization, and . In 2013, it was formally launched with the installation of a D-Wave Systems quantum annealer, marking one of the earliest efforts to integrate quantum hardware into AI research. QuAIL's core mission involves assessing the feasibility of quantum computers for NASA-specific tasks, including for and climate modeling, while pioneering algorithms like the quantum alternating-operator for hybrid computing and error mitigation techniques for noisy quantum devices. The lab has evolved to include collaborations with entities such as , the Department of Energy's National Quantum Information Science Centers (e.g., SQMS and C2QA), , and academic institutions, fostering advancements in quantum hardware co-design and distributed quantum algorithms. As of 2025, remains active in pushing quantum frontiers, with recent contributions including research on qudit-based processors for enhanced computational efficiency, quantum optimization solvers for problems, and eigensolvers for molecular simulations, as evidenced by publications on such as those on emerging superconducting qudit processors () and probabilistic approaches to hard (). The lab also develops open-source tools like HybridQ for simulating hybrid quantum-classical workflows and PySA, a suite of classical optimization algorithms used in quantum benchmarking, supporting broader ecosystem growth in quantum .

Overview

Establishment and Mandate

The Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab (QuAIL) was announced on May 16, 2013, as a joint initiative between NASA's , the Universities Space Research Association (USRA), and Research. This collaboration aimed to pioneer the integration of with , leveraging the expertise of each partner in space exploration, academic research, and technologies. The lab's initial mandate focused on exploring the potential of to advance , optimization techniques, and solutions to complex computational problems pertinent to NASA's missions, including space travel, earth , and . Specifically, it sought to address hard problems in Earth and space sciences, as well as , by developing quantum algorithms and co-designs that could revolutionize computational approaches for these domains. This effort built on broader partnerships with entities like D-Wave Systems for support, though core operations remained anchored in the founding trio. For its early experiments, the lab acquired the D-Wave Two, a 512-qubit quantum annealer, which was installed at NASA's to test quantum-enhanced computing capabilities. The overarching vision was to enable more efficient, ambitious, and safer NASA missions through quantum-enhanced , ultimately fostering breakthroughs in problem-solving under the laws of physics.

Location and Facilities

The Quantum Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (QuAIL) is located at NASA's in , within the Intelligent Systems Division. This site places the lab in the heart of , facilitating close proximity to technology partners and leveraging the center's established infrastructure for advanced computing research. QuAIL operates from dedicated facilities at the Advanced Supercomputing () division, including a specialized laboratory equipped with cryogenic systems to maintain the ultra-low temperatures required for superconducting quantum processors. These systems support the operation of quantum hardware, such as dilution refrigerators that cool components to millikelvin levels for minimizing thermal noise. The lab integrates with NASA's resources, notably the supercomputer, enabling hybrid classical-quantum workflows where classical simulations complement quantum experiments. The hardware at QuAIL has evolved from early quantum annealers to more advanced processors, beginning with the 512-qubit D-Wave Two system installed in 2013, followed by the D-Wave 2X with over 1000 qubits in 2015, and upgraded in 2017 to the D-Wave 2000Q with 2031 qubits, housed in the facility to advance in quantum optimization. Through collaborations, the lab has incorporated access to superconducting gate-model processors, including through partnerships with such as the for demonstrations. Support infrastructure includes research spaces managed by the Universities Space Research Association (USRA), which oversees operations and provides access for visiting researchers. Until the conclusion of the partnership around 2021, benefited from Google's computational resources for hybrid simulations, allowing scalable testing of quantum-enhanced models on classical hardware.

Partnerships

Core Collaborators

The Quantum Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (QuAIL) was primarily sustained from 2013 to 2021 through a foundational partnership among three key institutions: , the Universities Space Research Association (USRA), and Quantum AI (formerly Google Research). NASA hosts the lab at its Ames Research Center in , providing essential infrastructure, mission-driven applications in areas like , and funding support through programs such as the Information Directorate. USRA manages the lab's research personnel, oversees grant allocation, and facilitates broader academic involvement by enabling access for external researchers. Quantum AI contributed quantum hardware, advanced algorithms, and specialized expertise in integrating with quantum systems, while leading efforts in processor development and optimization from 2013 to 2021. This collaboration was formalized in a 2013 agreement that established shared governance, resource allocation, and joint research priorities among the partners. Since 2021, has been sustained primarily by and USRA, with expanded core collaborations including (through programs like ONISQ and Quantum Benchmarking), the Department of Energy's National Quantum Information Science Centers (SQMS at and C2QA at ), the (), and the Australian Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology (CQC2T). Beyond these core entities, QuAIL maintains broader ties to academic institutions, which are explored in detail elsewhere.

Academic and Industry Ties

The Quantum Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (QuAIL) maintains extensive academic partnerships that extend beyond its core collaborators, fostering advancements in quantum hardware and algorithms. QuAIL had a key collaboration with the (UCSB), initiated in 2014 through Google's Quantum AI team, focusing on the development of superconducting quantum processors for applications. This partnership leveraged UCSB's expertise in superconducting qubit technology, with Google's researchers utilizing UCSB's nanofabrication and measurement facilities for device prototyping and testing during the active collaboration period. Additional academic ties include collaborations with on quantum algorithms, facilitated through the Universities Space Research Association (USRA), QuAIL's core partner, as part of NSF-funded initiatives like the Expeditions in Computing program that bridge and . QuAIL also participates in USRA's researcher exchange programs, such as the Feynman Quantum Academy Internship, which brings graduate students and early-career researchers from various universities to for hands-on projects aligned with NASA's mission challenges. On the industry side, has historical ties to D-Wave Systems, dating back to 2013 when the lab hosted and evaluated the D-Wave Two quantum annealer to explore its potential for optimization problems in space applications. Current extensions include formal agreements with for quantum hardware development and benchmarking, including joint efforts under DARPA's Optimization with Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum devices (ONISQ) program to assess scalable quantum systems. These academic and industry connections enable to recruit top talent from leading institutions and promote the cross-pollination of ideas essential for developing scalable quantum technologies.

Research Areas

Quantum Computing for

The () at has pioneered the integration of techniques to enhance processes, particularly through and variational quantum algorithms. , a method leveraging quantum tunneling to solve problems, has been applied by QuAIL researchers to accelerate sampling tasks central to , such as training restricted Boltzmann machines (RBMs) for . For instance, in generative modeling, quantum annealers like D-Wave systems have demonstrated advantages in Boltzmann sampling for applications, enabling faster convergence in reconstructing images from industrial datasets compared to classical methods. This approach addresses NP-hard optimization challenges in training, where classical algorithms often scale poorly, by exploiting quantum effects to explore solution spaces more efficiently. Variational quantum algorithms, such as the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA), represent another cornerstone of QuAIL's efforts to bolster tasks like and . QAOA operates on near-term noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices by iteratively applying a problem and a mixing to approximate solutions to optimization problems. of QAOA is formulated around the : H_C = \sum_i h_i Z_i + \sum_{i<j} J_{ij} Z_i Z_j where Z_i are Pauli-Z operators on qubits, h_i represent local fields, and J_{ij} denote interaction strengths between qubits i and j, encoding the of the . The algorithm initializes a superposition state and alternates between time evolutions under H_C (phase separation, parameterized by angles \gamma_k) and a transverse-field H_M = \sum_i X_i (mixing, parameterized by \beta_k) for p layers, producing the trial state |\psi(\vec{\gamma}, \vec{\beta})\rangle = e^{-i\beta_p H_M} e^{-i\gamma_p H_C} \cdots e^{-i\beta_1 H_M} e^{-i\gamma_1 H_C} |+\rangle^{\otimes n}. Parameter optimization proceeds variationally: a classical optimizer, such as or Bayesian methods, minimizes the expectation value \langle \psi | H_C | \psi \rangle over measurements from quantum hardware or simulations, with demonstrating approximation ratios up to 0.96 on 82-qubit instances for tasks like MaxCut, which underpin ML optimization. Hybrid quantum-classical models further extend these capabilities, combining quantum samplers with classical neural networks for scenarios, such as optimizing agent policies in simulated environments; for example, QuAIL's quantum-assisted variational autoencoders (QVAEs) integrate annealer outputs to refine latent spaces, enhancing policy learning efficiency in resource-constrained tasks. These models have shown promise in solving NP-hard problems in , like hyperparameter tuning, faster than purely classical counterparts on benchmark datasets. In quantum-enhanced neural networks, QuAIL's work emphasizes hybrid architectures that leverage quantum advantages for expressive power. Quantum-assisted Helmholtz machines, a deep generative framework, use quantum annealing to sample from complex probability distributions in hidden layers, achieving superior performance in tasks like digit recognition on up to 1644-qubit problems, where classical RBMs struggle with mode collapse. This enables faster training of neural networks for , with empirical results indicating reduced epochs for convergence in applications. Overall, these advancements position quantum methods as accelerators for , particularly in optimization-heavy domains, while QuAIL continues to refine protocols for practical deployment on NISQ . As of 2025, QuAIL's research includes developments in qudit-based processors for enhanced computational efficiency in tasks.

Applications to Space Exploration

The (QuAIL) at applies quantum optimization techniques to address critical challenges in , particularly in routing and for deep space . These efforts focus on leveraging and hybrid quantum-classical algorithms to solve complex scheduling problems, such as coordinating scientific observations, communication windows, and maintenance tasks for Mars landers. For instance, QuAIL researchers have developed a framework that uses quantum annealers to iteratively handle discrete and continuous constraints in lander operations, demonstrating feasible solutions with reduced computational effort compared to classical methods. This approach extends to broader planning, including and resource distribution for interplanetary travel, enhancing efficiency for programs like and future Mars expeditions. In satellite data analysis, QuAIL explores quantum machine learning to process vast amounts of imagery from Earth observation missions, improving detection of environmental phenomena relevant to space-based monitoring. A key application involves quantum-assisted image-to-image translation for analyzing satellite photos of wildfires and vegetation properties that signal drought risks, using models like Quantum Variational Autoencoders and Quantum Neural Networks integrated with Quantum Ising Born Machines. These techniques exploit quantum fluctuations to enhance pattern recognition in noisy datasets, potentially aiding real-time decision-making for earth science missions and disaster response tied to space infrastructure. Specific projects at include quantum algorithms tailored for autonomous systems in space, such as rover navigation on planetary surfaces. By optimizing information sharing in bandwidth-limited environments and developing quantum-ready methods for GPS-denied , these algorithms enable more robust path planning and avoidance for s during Mars missions. also investigates error-corrected quantum simulations to model complex systems like atmospheric dynamics for applications, supporting predictions that underpin long-term planning. As of 2025, contributions include quantum optimization solvers for problems in space missions and eigensolvers for molecular simulations relevant to materials.

Historical Development

Founding Phase (2013–2015)

The Quantum Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (QuAIL) was established on May 16, 2013, through a collaboration between , , and the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) at in . The lab's initial mandate focused on exploring quantum computing's potential to address complex optimization problems relevant to NASA missions, such as planning and applications. In 2013, the lab installed a 512-qubit D-Wave Two quantum annealer, the most advanced commercially available system at the time, which became operational in September 2013 to enable early experimentation with techniques. On October 10, 2013, released a providing the first public glimpse into the lab's operations, highlighting the D-Wave system's cryogenic environment and its potential for solving intractable computational challenges. Early research efforts emphasized practical demonstrations and performance evaluations of the D-Wave hardware. In October 2013, researchers, in partnership with and the , released qCraft, a Minecraft mod that integrated simulations of quantum phenomena like superposition and entanglement to educate users on quantum principles. By January 2014, the team published benchmark comparisons of the D-Wave Two against classical solvers for optimization problems, revealing instances where the quantum annealer matched or exceeded classical performance on certain structured tasks, though results were inconclusive regarding consistent quantum speedup. These initial studies prioritized representative NASA-relevant problems, such as scheduling and , to gauge the hardware's utility without exhaustive testing. The founding phase also grappled with fundamental challenges in validating quantum advantages. Debates arose over the D-Wave system's ability to demonstrate true quantum speedup, as early benchmarks showed performance gains dependent on problem formulation rather than inherent quantum effects. QuAIL's focus remained on during this period, reflecting the available hardware, while acknowledging limitations like noise and limited connectivity that hindered broader applicability. Personnel development began under USRA's management, with recruitment of an initial core team of researchers, including experts in quantum physics and , to support the lab's interdisciplinary goals. This buildup enabled of experiments and laid the groundwork for collaborative academic and industry ties.

Expansion and Milestones (2016–2020)

Following the initial establishment, the Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab () underwent substantial growth between 2016 and 2020, marked by enhanced collaborations, hardware advancements, and pivotal research outputs that positioned it at the forefront of for applications. Building on the September 2, 2014, announcement of a partnership between and the (UCSB) to develop advanced quantum processors, benefited from this collaboration's extension into the period, which facilitated shared expertise in design and control systems. In 2015, QuAIL upgraded to the D-Wave 2X with over 1,000 , enhancing capabilities for larger-scale optimization experiments. A notable development was the lab's post-2016 shift toward superconducting architectures, aligning with Google's gate-model efforts and complementing earlier work on systems like D-Wave processors. This transition enabled more versatile quantum simulations and algorithm testing, with QuAIL researchers contributing to hardware-algorithm co-design for improved coherence times and gate fidelities. In 2017, achieved a significant milestone with the publication "Opportunities and Challenges for Quantum-Assisted in Near-Term Quantum Computers," which explored hybrid quantum-classical approaches for tasks like and optimization, emphasizing practical implementations on noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices. This work underscored the lab's focus on quantum enhancements to , demonstrating potential speedups in sampling-based algorithms over classical methods. From 2018 to 2019, played a key role in preparing and benchmarking the , a 53-qubit superconducting device, through joint testing of quantum circuits and error mitigation techniques to push toward scalable quantum advantage. This preparation culminated in October 2019, when collaborated with on a landmark experiment involving random circuit sampling on Sycamore; the task generated samples from complex quantum states in approximately 200 seconds—a estimated to require 10,000 years on the world's fastest at the time, marking the first experimental demonstration of quantum advantage. The lab's expansion during this era included a significant increase in personnel, alongside deeper with NASA's initiatives to secure broader agency funding for interdisciplinary projects in optimization and simulation.

Key Achievements

Quantum Supremacy Demonstration

In 2019, researchers from , in collaboration with NASA and , conducted a landmark experiment using the 53-qubit , a programmable superconducting quantum device composed of 54 qubits with one inoperable. The task involved sampling the output distribution of a pseudo-random , a computationally intensive process designed to test quantum computational power. The completed this sampling for one million instances in approximately 200 seconds, a feat estimated to require 10,000 years on the world's fastest classical using a million cores. NASA QuAIL contributed to the experiment through co-authorship on the published paper, including lead Eleanor Rieffel, and by advancing verification techniques using Ames supercomputing facilities like to establish classical simulation limits. The methodology employed random quantum circuits with up to 20 cycles, incorporating single-qubit rotations and two-qubit fSim to generate entangled states. To verify the results, the team used linear benchmarking (XEB), which compared experimental bitstring outputs to ideal probabilities from classical simulations, achieving an XEB exceeding 0.7 for smaller circuits and demonstrating a 5σ level for supremacy at full scale. This metric confirmed that the quantum outputs were not simulable by classical noise models, underscoring the processor's ability to produce genuine quantum correlations. IBM researchers challenged the supremacy claim shortly after publication, asserting that a classical simulation of the same task could be performed in 2.5 days on their Summit supercomputer with optimized techniques like circuit partitioning and tensor contraction, achieving higher fidelity than the quantum run. This debate highlighted methodological differences in simulation approaches, with IBM emphasizing that the task's complexity had been overestimated due to unaccounted classical optimizations. The experiment marked a proof-of-principle for quantum advantage, demonstrating that near-term quantum devices could outperform classical computers in specific sampling tasks relevant to , such as generating complex probability distributions for training models. Published in on October 23, 2019 (DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1666-5), the work advanced the noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) era, paving the way for fault-tolerant systems capable of practical applications like optimization and . Central to the discourse was the distinction between ""—a demonstration of quantum speed on any contrived task infeasible for classical machines—and "quantum advantage," which requires solving practically useful problems with verifiable benefits. Critics, including , argued that the Sycamore results, while technically impressive, fell short of advantage due to the task's lack of real-world utility and vulnerability to classical improvements, fueling ongoing efforts toward error-corrected for .

Advanced Processor Developments

QuAIL has advanced through the development of algorithms and tools tailored for hybrid quantum-classical systems, supporting NASA's applications in optimization, , and . A key contribution is HybridQ, a versatile simulator released in 2022, capable of handling large-scale simulations on CPUs, GPUs, and TPUs via and direct evolution methods. This tool enables efficient modeling of NISQ devices for tasks like and climate modeling. Complementing HybridQ, the PySA suite, developed as of 2024, provides classical optimization algorithms including and isoenergetic cluster moves to benchmark and enhance quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA) performance on problems relevant to and scheduling in space missions. These tools foster hardware-algorithm co-design and have been applied in collaborations with and DOE centers like SQMS. Recent publications as of 2025 highlight QuAIL's progress, including work on scalable quantum eigensolvers for molecular simulations () and fault-tolerant quantum optimization for combinatorial problems (), demonstrating potential speedups for NASA-specific challenges such as and . These efforts, building on the 2019 collaboration, emphasize error mitigation techniques for noisy devices without direct hardware development.

Current Operations

Ongoing Projects

The Quantum Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (QuAIL) is actively developing hybrid quantum-classical algorithms to enhance AI capabilities for autonomous systems in space exploration, including processing high-dimensional mission data and improving generative modeling for trajectory planning. These efforts build on quantum approximate optimization algorithms (QAOA) for optimization problems relevant to space missions, such as trajectory optimization, with recent noise-directed adaptive remapping techniques achieving approximation ratios of 0.9 to 0.96 on instances up to 82 qubits. Current initiatives emphasize practical applications for NASA missions, such as optimizing flight paths and resource allocation in deep space environments. QuAIL maintains active collaborations with on quantum hardware advancements, including benchmarking of superconducting processors for error mitigation and noise characterization in mission-critical computations, as well as partnerships with for experiments on quantum devices. These efforts extend to quantum sensors integrated with hybrid computing frameworks to process mission data, supporting enhanced autonomy in long-duration space operations. Supported by NASA's mandate to assess and advance quantum computing's role in enabling more efficient and safer missions, these projects receive funding through agency programs like the (AES) and (SCaN). produces numerous publications annually on hybrid quantum machine learning, including works on discrete generative models and variational quantum eigensolvers for molecular simulations relevant to systems. As of 2025, QuAIL conducts extensive experiments on noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices, such as 82-qubit systems from Rigetti, while prioritizing transitions to fault-tolerant regimes through algorithm-hardware co-design, error correction protocols like logical shadow tomography, and resource estimation for scalable applications. This focus ensures quantum enhancements align with NASA's operational needs, from to exploration.

Leadership and Personnel

The Quantum Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (QuAIL) is led by Eleanor Rieffel, who serves as the Group Lead within NASA's at . As a senior research scientist, Rieffel oversees the lab's research agenda, focusing on applications for missions. The lab's associate lead is Lucas Braydwood, and the deputy lead is Shon Grabbe, both contributing to strategic direction and operational management. QuAIL operates as a collaborative effort, with significant contributions from Google's Quantum AI team, directed by Hartmut Neven, the founder and vice president of engineering responsible for advancing quantum hardware and algorithms. Neven's early involvement since the lab's 2013 inception has shaped its focus on quantum machine learning. On the USRA side, Dr. David Bell serves as the program manager for QuAIL, directing the Research Institute for Advanced Computer Science (RIACS) and facilitating interdisciplinary partnerships. Key personnel include principal investigators and researchers such as Davide Venturelli, an expert in , and Stuart Hadfield, specializing in quantum approximate optimization. Other notable contributors encompass M. Sohaib Alam in and Zhihui Wang in hybrid quantum-classical systems. The team comprises physicists, computer scientists, mathematicians, chemists, and engineers, drawing from , , and USRA to integrate diverse expertise in quantum technologies. Governance falls under NASA's Intelligent Systems Division, with strategic alignment achieved through joint reviews among partners including the Department of Energy's quantum centers.

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