Wil Oxford (Anametric): Why QKD fell out of favor and random numbers took its place

Key takeaways

  • Anametric started out building chip-scale quantum photonics for QKD but shifted its commercial focus toward quantum random number generation.
  • QKD carries baggage in Washington DC policy circles, making it a difficult word to lead with when pitching government customers.
  • The US Air Force has shown interest in Anametric's photonic chips, tying the technology to concrete cybersecurity needs rather than abstract quantum hype.
  • The pivot reflects a broader lesson in quantum photonics: finding a product that customers will actually buy today matters more than chasing the most futuristic use case.

Summary

Wil Oxford, founder and CEO of Anametric, a company developing new technologies for chip-scale quantum photonics, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Wil and Yuval spoke about Anametric’s initial cybersecurity focus, why QKD is not a popular word in Washington DC, why the US Air Force is interested in Anametric’s products, and much more.

Read the full transcript on The Quantum Computing Report here