SandboxAQ, a quantum technology company spun off from Google’s parent company, Alphabet, is optimistic about how large quantitative artificial intelligence models (LQMs) can empower the UAE to export expertise in critical sectors globally. According to Jack Hidary, CEO of SandboxAQ, key sectors such as biotechnology, finance, energy, and logistics stand to benefit the most from these advanced AI systems.
While the company is in the early stages of building relationships with clients in the UAE, Hidary emphasized in an interview that the nation’s growing interest in LQMs aligns well with SandboxAQ’s ambitions. “There is so much great activity in the UAE and so many companies interested in [LQMs],” Hidary said. He added that LQMs offer a significant opportunity for the UAE to expand its capabilities and influence, especially in quantitative AI applications.
What Are LQMs?
Large Quantitative AI Models (LQMs) are sophisticated AI systems designed to process, analyze, and generate quantitative data, distinguishing them from large language models (LLMs) that focus on natural language processing. Unlike word-based AI, which relies on internet-based data, LQMs, like those on SandboxAQ’s AQBioSim platform, use physics-based technology to solve complex problems—such as generating new molecules for drug discovery from scratch.
Hidary explained that LQMs offer a fundamentally different approach. “Word-based AI is trained only on the words of the internet. So if it’s not on the internet, it doesn’t know it. We produce data in a very different way, from actual equations.” This unique methodology provides LQMs with a distinct advantage in fields requiring highly specialized, data-driven innovation.
Empowering UAE’s IP Creation
SandboxAQ’s vision for LQMs in the UAE goes beyond mere problem-solving. Hidary emphasized the potential for UAE companies to use LQMs to create intellectual property (IP), particularly in biotechnology, materials science, and energy. This could enhance the UAE’s economic landscape by allowing it to export proprietary technologies and solutions worldwide.
Hidary highlighted the long-term economic benefits of this IP creation, saying, “What if the UAE could become its own creator of biotech IP, first approved here and then expanded globally? That would be very positive for the UAE.” He noted that SandboxAQ’s software enables clients to own the IP produced, making it an “IP-generating machine” that could significantly enhance the UAE’s global standing.
Benefits Beyond Borders
Beyond IP creation, LQMs offer significant time and cost-saving advantages. Governments and enterprises can leverage LQMs to make faster, more accurate decisions, ultimately leading to better products and more efficient operations. For example, in the pharmaceutical sector, LQMs can explore vast chemical and drug combinations, accelerating the discovery of new treatments that would take far longer using conventional methods.
Hidary added, “If you use LQMs to calculate what a new drug might be, you can explore a much bigger potential drug space than humans ever could on their own.”
Financial Strength and Growth Prospects
SandboxAQ is financially stable, having raised $500 million in early 2023, bringing its valuation to approximately $4 billion. The company is not actively seeking additional funding and is focused on product development, expanding its customer base, and growing its team. Investors such as T. Rowe Price, Breyer Capital, and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt—who remains the company’s chairman—have backed the company as it leads the third quantum revolution.
Hidary noted that while LLMs serve important functions, LQMs are better suited to the broader economy, particularly from a business-to-business (B2B) perspective. “From a B2B perspective, it’s a much bigger market, probably 50 times as large,” he said, emphasizing the broader commercial applications for LQMs.
A Revolutionary Approach
LQMs are more resilient and robust than traditional LLMs, especially when it comes to security. They are trained on the equations of reality, leveraging physics, chemistry, and biology to solve complex, real-world problems. This robustness makes them ideal for industries like healthcare, where accuracy and security are paramount.
As the UAE continues to position itself as a leader in AI and quantum computing, SandboxAQ is optimistic that LQMs will play a central role in shaping the future of the nation’s key industries. Hidary concluded that rather than slowing down the adoption of AI, it would be “irresponsible not to use AI, particularly LQMs, given their potential to bring positive benefits to humanity.”
UAE’s Quantum and AI Ambitions
The UAE has been actively positioning itself as a global technology hub, embracing AI and advanced computing as part of its national strategy. The country’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031 highlights its commitment to harnessing AI’s potential in sectors such as education, healthcare, and transportation. By incorporating quantum computing, the UAE aims to tackle complex challenges that traditional computing struggles with. This forward-thinking approach aligns with SandboxAQ’s mission to unlock new potentials in AI using quantum technologies.
The Power of Quantum AI
Quantum AI integrates quantum computing with artificial intelligence, pushing the boundaries of data processing, problem-solving, and optimization. Unlike classical computing, quantum computers can handle complex computations at speeds previously unattainable, making them ideal for AI tasks that involve large datasets, intricate simulations, and complex decision-making. SandboxAQ sees tremendous potential for these capabilities to revolutionize sectors like cybersecurity, drug discovery, and financial modeling.
In the UAE, industries that deal with massive data, such as oil and gas, finance, and logistics, can benefit significantly from quantum AI applications. The ability to quickly process large amounts of data and simulate different scenarios with higher accuracy could lead to breakthroughs in optimization and efficiency.
SandboxAQ’s Role in the UAE
SandboxAQ’s optimism for the UAE stems from the country’s forward-looking policies and commitment to technological innovation. By establishing partnerships with local institutions and businesses, SandboxAQ seeks to drive practical quantum AI solutions that can solve real-world challenges in the region.
Moreover, the UAE’s investment in its technological infrastructure makes it a fertile ground for SandboxAQ’s quantum AI advancements. With initiatives like the Dubai Future Foundation and Abu Dhabi’s Hub71, the UAE fosters an environment conducive to the growth of startups and tech companies like SandboxAQ that specialize in cutting-edge technologies.
Quantum AI’s Impact on Cybersecurity
One of the most promising applications of quantum AI lies in cybersecurity, an area of increasing concern for businesses and governments. Quantum cryptography can provide unprecedented levels of security, protecting sensitive information from cyberattacks. Given the UAE’s status as a growing digital economy, this could have profound implications for ensuring the safety of its digital infrastructure.
SandboxAQ is actively working on quantum-resistant cryptographic solutions that are expected to be key in protecting critical infrastructure from future cyber threats, particularly in a region as technologically advanced as the UAE.
The UAE’s embrace of quantum AI technologies promises a future where innovation, IP creation, and global influence will converge, solidifying its role in the next wave of the AI revolution.