Lockheed Martin is collaborating with Xanadu to advance the fundamental theory and real-world applications of quantum machine learning (QML). The global defense and technology company will collaborate with Xanadu, a leader in quantum computing software and hardware, to explore how quantum computers can power generative models, a machine learning technique used in areas such as artificial intelligence. This research focuses specifically on exploiting Fourier-based manipulations that are inaccessible to classical techniques, potentially enabling advances in defense, finance, and pharmaceutical experimental design. “This research aims to rethink the fundamentals of how quantum computers can learn,” said Christian Weedbrook, founder and CEO of Xanadu. “By revisiting core quantum primitives, we hope to discover entirely new ways to represent and process data.”
Xanadu and Lockheed Martin advance quantum machine learning theory
Research in quantum machine learning has accelerated as Xanadu and Lockheed Martin begin a collaboration focused on generative models to fundamentally rethink how quantum computers learn. Generative models are an essential technology for modern artificial intelligence, but they are often hampered by a lack of data and energy demands. Lockheed Martin’s involvement stems from the company’s active exploration of quantum technologies that have the potential to reshape computing and sensing capabilities, and the collaboration aims to expand understanding of how future quantum systems will enhance national security and technological progress. Founded in 2016, Xanadu also leads the development of PennyLane, an open source software library for quantum computing and application development.
Fourier-based operations expand the possibilities of generative models
Generative models, the driving force behind many current advances in artificial intelligence, including large-scale language models, often require large amounts of data and energy, and are difficult when data is limited. Xanadu and Lockheed Martin are addressing this challenge through a new research initiative. The collaboration will investigate how quantum computers can take advantage of Fourier-based operations, a computational approach inaccessible to traditional machine learning, which could potentially enable applications in fields such as defense, finance and pharmaceuticals through the design of complex experiments. This pursuit builds on Xanadu’s existing quantum computing research and aims to move beyond theoretical possibilities toward practical applications in a variety of industries. Lockheed Martin’s involvement brings valuable domain expertise to this project and facilitates exploration of how these quantum technologies can support national security and advanced technology development. By leveraging the unique capabilities of quantum computing, this effort aims to overcome the limitations inherent in classical machine learning, especially in data-scarce environments.
At Lockheed Martin, we are actively researching quantum technologies that have the potential to transform computing and sensing.
Dani Cougar, Head of Quantum Technology, Lockheed Martin
