Nobel Laureate John Martinis Explains Quantum Computing

I had the great honour of speaking with John Martinis, winner of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics, about the origins of quantum computing and the experiment that helped make it possible.

We discussed how his early work had demonstrated that quantum mechanics could exist not only in tiny particles, but also in macroscopic electrical circuits. This breakthrough paved the way for the development of quantum computers — machines that could one day solve problems beyond the capabilities of classical computers. John explains, in clear and simple terms, what a quantum computer actually is, how qubits work and why quantum computing is so powerful, but also why it's so difficult to build and scale. He also shares what it was like to receive the Nobel Prize.