Manufacturing's Latest Firsts: Quantum Computing Meets AI, Edge Networks Go Global, and Biotech Gets Faster

Manufacturing Firsts is a recurring round-up where each installment will spotlight technological and manufacturing innovations that represent genuine "firsts" in their respective industries. We'll explore breakthrough developments that signal important shifts in how companies design, engineer, and produce cutting-edge products.

Quantinuum's Generative Quantum AI Framework Is Set to Redefine Problem Solving in Any Industry

Quantinuum, a pioneer of powerful quantum computers and advanced software solutions, has created a Generative Quantum AI framework (Gen QAI) that uses unique quantum-generated data to enable commercial applications in areas ranging from the development of new medicines, precise predictive modeling of financial markets, and real-time optimization of global logistics and supply chains.

According to Quantinuum, the potential of these capabilities is huge and the framework has the possibility to unlock new solutions to other complex problems that classical computing can't address.

For the first time, data generated by Quantinuum's H2 quantum computer can be used to train AI systems, enhancing the fidelity of AI models and allowing them to tackle challenges previously unsolvable.

With this breakthrough, Quantinuum is on its way to setting a new standard for AI training and problem-solving across various industries.

"We are at one of those moments where the hypothetical is becoming real and the breakthroughs made possible by the precision of this quantum-generated data will create transformative commercial value across countless sectors," said Dr. Raj Hazra, President and CEO of Quantinuum.

"While some may suggest that a standalone quantum computer is still years away, the commercial opportunities from this breakthrough are here and now," said Dr. Thomas Ehmer from the Healthcare business sector of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

Aramco, Microsoft, and Armada Launch World's First Industrial Edge Computing Network for AI Transformation

Aramco Digital, Armada, and Microsoft have joined together to deploy Galleon edge data centers, the Commander software platform, and real-world AI applications. Deploying in Saudia Arabia, the companies are advancing AI-driven automation, real-time computing, and digital transformation across Saudi Aramco's operations.

Each deployment uses components of Microsoft Azure's adaptive cloud in Armada's Galleon data center pods for secure, high-performance computing directly at the edge. This includes Azure IoT Operations to ingest the data, Azure Arc for managing data within the Galleon pods, and Azure Local for distributing it to the industrial sites.

With real-time data processing and analysis, this joint effort has created low-latency AI applications, automated safety monitoring, and advanced operational intelligence, effectively enhancing Aramco's efficiency across each of its sites.

The first deployment integrates AI-driven digital safety solutions for Aramco's construction sites and energy facilities, leveraging computer vision and generative AI for predictive safety monitoring and real-time reporting. By integrating high-performance computing directly at the edge, Galleons enable real-time processing of large-scale sensor networks, including cameras and IoT systems, supporting vision-based reporting, robotics, and multimodal AI applications.

This venture combines cloud scalability, edge resilience, and AI-driven insights to make operations extremely lean and efficient. The Galleon pods, which are satellite-connected, act as industrial distributed cloud hubs, supporting Aramco's hyperscale data center strategy while ensuring on-site AI capabilities for Aramco's other industrial sites.

Aramco is able to make use of Armada's network of satellite partners that deliver high-speed connectivity across remote, disconnected, and bandwidth-constrained environments for its locations that would otherwise not have access.

"The deployment of Galleons in Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with Aramco Digital and Microsoft, marks a significant milestone in advancing real-world AI through edge computing," said Dan Wright, Co-founder and CEO of Armada. "By bringing real-time processing capabilities directly to Aramco's critical operations, we're enabling new levels of efficiency, safety, and intelligence at the edge. This is just the beginning of a transformative journey to scale these capabilities to the world." 

The partners are now working on scaling this coverage across Saudi Arabia so Aramco can have high-performance edge computing wherever it operates.

Debut Unveils AI-Powered Ingredient Discovery to Advance Biotech Production

Fueling biotech operations in the manufacturing industry and beyond, Debut, a biotech leader in the beauty and cosmetics industry, launched BeautyORB which is an AI-powered engineer that lets researchers and developers discover novel ingredients for specific skin issues. Instead of taking several years to discover a new ingredient, source it, harvest it, etc., Debut will be launching two new ingredients each year.

Stated to be on par with pharmaceutical-grade technology, the genomics-based AI platform has already created new ingredients that address inflammaging (inflammation caused by aging), epidermal barrier repair, anti-aging, scalp care, and more. BeautyORB screens 50 billion molecules for their ability to turn on cellular pathways within the skin, a process that has never previously been possible in beauty.

Using generative AI, BeautyORB delivers:

• More than 50 billion molecule possibilities
• 30,000 genes tested per molecule using omics technology
• 25,000 genes tested per second
• 21,000 molecules screened in silico per second for deep learning
• 200+ new biological pathways tested per molecule
• Over 60 million data points, with 100 million over the next 12 months

"We are thrilled to partner with the industry-leading contract manufacturer KDC/one to create finished products of the highest quality, in tandem with Debut's custom formulation business, BiotechXBeautyLabs, to achieve our mission of reinventing product performance with the safest sustainability credentials. Our KDC/one partnership sets the stage for a global biomanufacturing revolution in beauty," said Joshua Britton, Ph.D, Founder and CEO of Debut.

Why are we talking about cosmetics? This is an important step for all manufacturers in the field of biomanufacturing. If more programs such as this one are developed, not just in cosmetics but for medicine of any kind, contract manufacturers will likely be in higher demand due to how rapidly these ingredients can be discovered.