
Quantum computing lab transformed into artistic oasis
Clip: 1/10/2024 | 5m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Why Google transformed a quantum computing lab into an artistic oasis
Advance technology labs are not places where you're likely to find much creative artistic expression, let alone color. But a scientist and an artist have joined forces to help inspire the development of the next generation of computing at Google’s Quantum A.I. Lab. Special correspondent Mike Cerre reports for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.
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Quantum computing lab transformed into artistic oasis
Clip: 1/10/2024 | 5m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Advance technology labs are not places where you're likely to find much creative artistic expression, let alone color. But a scientist and an artist have joined forces to help inspire the development of the next generation of computing at Google’s Quantum A.I. Lab. Special correspondent Mike Cerre reports for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipartistic expression, let alone color.
But a# scientist and an artist have joined forces to help## inspire the development of the next generation# of computing at Google's Quantum A.I.
lab.
Special correspondent Mike Cerre reports## from California for our arts# and cult MIKE CERRE: Your typical sterile# technology office park building,## until a scientist and an artist collaborated to# turn this advanced technology lab for bu the next generation of computing into an# art museum to help inspire the innovation.
FOREST STEARNS, Artist in Residence: We have# created a space where there is no edge between## the hardware, the art, the architecture, the# scientist an MIKE CERRE: Forest Stearns, a Google# artist in residence and Erik Lucero,## the Google engineer charged with# developing its first quantum A.I.
computer,## have a mutual fascination with art and science.
ERIK LUCERO, Director, Google Quantum# A.I.
Lab: I think a lot of the work## that I have done are beautiful things that we make in# electrical engineering and in physics.
MIKE CERRE: An accomplished# photographer as well as a scientist,## Lucero offered Stearns and artist# in residency at Google Quantum A. after seeing Stearns' Draweverywhere# work imprinted on satellites in space.
FOREST STEARNS: Having figured out how# to make the largest art exhibit in space,## put the light bulb of let's put art on# technological things to amplify humanity.
So you asked him, what is quantum computing?
FOREST STEARNS: I asked Erik, what is quantum# paper, he sent me his gorgeous portfolio# of photographs of the quantum comp MIKE CERRE: Since this next generation# of computing relies more on the## nature of physics than mathematical# computation, like existing comput quantum computing's connection with nature# became the unifying theme for the art everywhere,## from the lobby sculptures of some of# the hardware and 3-D installations## in the company's cafe to wrapping the# quantum computers themselves in art.
FOREST STEARNS: The quantum computer# to me looked like a beer keg.
(LAUGHTER) and then it's a completely different# experience when you see it adorning## a quantum computer.
I feel like# that was when -- I don't I get chills thinking about having all these# machines kind MIKE CERRE: Chill is the operative term here,## since the chandelier-like guts of t than 400 degrees below zero inside these# refrigerated containers called cryostats.
FOREST STEARNS: We have 16 artists# internationally.
Some of them are## traditional oil painters.
Some# of them are digital artists.
We## have craftsmen that work in metal and# we have sculptors that work in 3-D. RAVIS HENRY, Park Ranger, Canyon de Chelly# National Monument: My name is Ravis Henry.## I'm a park ranger at Canyon# MI KE CERRE: Park ranger Ravis Henry is# also an accomplished Navajo je welry maker.
Stearns and Lucero# discovered him and his work while## in the Southwest exploring national parks# for the art project's creative exchange.
FOREST STEARNS: He does his work# in metal craft.
It is silver and## copper.
And we take this piece and# it goes from its local the way to a quantum cryostat wrapped# around within the scientific endeavor.
ERIK LUCERO: I actually had the# opportunity to paint this mural## that you see behind us.
I basically# finished my day work change into my paint clothes and grab a# paintbrush with Forest and finish the mural.
FOREST STEARNS: Art is very experiential,## and we are creatin JACOB AGUILAR, Google Technician: I# mean, everything with vibrant color## in here really just helps, I an d it really just keeps the lab in a creative# thinking space, just because, when stuff too technical, and it's just basic black# and white, it really closes off your mind.
MIKE CERRE: Would you hang the# Galapagos in your living room?
WILLIAM GIANG, Google# Technician: Yes, I defin (CROSSTALK) WILL we asked for -- if we could ER IK LUCERO: It's important to note that there's# real humans that are working on these projects,## and we care deeply about the places that we live,## where we have come from and the planet# that research tools are what are going to help# us actually stay here and protect our Earth.
MIKE CERRE: The intersection of art and technology# is as old and rich as Leonardo da Vinci and as## American as the 19th century painter Samuel Morse.# In addition to his anatomy portraits, he developed## the first telegraph and Morse code.
His first# electronic message, "What hath God wrought?"
Sometimes, there's a perception of# a love-hate relation between art,## science and technology.
Do you# think that's misinterpreted?
ERIK LUCERO: I would challenge that it exists.
MIKE CERRE: In what way?
same.
When you have the opportunity# to do great science, there's just an## opportunity of looking at it with a particular# perspective that can make it look artistic.
FOREST STEARNS: I am celebrating the fact# that quantum physics is hard and it's way## out here.
And when something is way out here,# it takes art to bring it back to right here.
MIKE CERRE: For the "PBS NewsHour,"# I'm Mike Cerre in Goleta, California.
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