Breaking: Sandbox AQ Raises $500 million for cybersecurity, other quantum work

But what is AQ anyways?

Hey Everyone,

Ed Update: It turns out the $500 million was the amount of their initial funding, the PR does not represent a new funding round.

Okay Google, what have you done for me lately? Don’t look now, but Sandbox AQ just raised a big round. This is breaking news, but I may cover this topic more when more details have been revealed.

We don’t know how much funding they had previously (nine figures generally means $100 million), but this instantly makes them one of the best funded Quantum startups currently around. It’s nearly the one year mark since their last funding.

Jack Hidary, who was formerly the director of AI and quantum at Sandbox when it was part of Alphabet, is a pretty interesting speaker on the future of Quantum and AI.

What Is AQ And Why Will Impact Your World

This is a relatively recent talk he gave, if you can manage the poor audio quality:

Next Level Quantum

This tweet also has a Vimeo interview that’s of interest:

SandboxAQ @SandboxAQ

The use of #AI tech is continuing to transform how individuals approach and resolve issues. Our CEO @jackhidary speaks with @YPO's Anastasios Economou on developing technology, how investments in #quantum technologies are starting to increase, and more:

bit.lyInsights from the 2023 World Economic Forum: Jack HidaryThis is “Insights from the 2023 World Economic Forum: Jack Hidary” by The Source on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

What does Sandbox AQ do?

The U.S. government has set quantum computing as one of the key technologies important for national security. More enterprises are going to need cybersecurity solutions for the next-generation.

Sandbox AQ's software scans companies' systems to identify which parts use the old cryptography, identifies which need to be replaced urgently, and sets out to fortify the encryption of the enterprise, said CEO Jack Hidary.

They have basically doubled their company size since they announced that they are being spun out of Alphabet.

They claim to be leveraging “AQ” - the powerful compound effects of AI + Quantum

But they also have a Quantum sensing and Quantum simulation play, not just a secruite suite. They also have contracts with the DoD, or at least the U.S. Airforce. So the Quantum sensing play they are involved with might be part of the U.S. Defense plan to keep up with China.