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## 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.
Wanda Parisien is a computing expert who navigates the vast landscape of hardware and software. With a focus on computer technology, software development, and industry trends, Wanda delivers informative content, tutorials, and analyses to keep readers updated on the latest in the world of computing.
