Workshop "How Computing is Changing the World"
In October 2025, the QISS and InDeep research groups met at the Sustainalab (Matrix One) in Amsterdam to explore in a joint workshop the synergies and challenges of AI and quantum technologies. As both fields advance rapidly, the workshop focused on their technological progress as well as their ethical, legal, and societal implications.
The morning session addressed technological perspectives. After a welcome, InDeep project leader Jelle Zuidema outlined the current state of AI, highlighting the black-box problem. Mehrnoosh Sadrzadeh (UCL) and Martha Lewis (UvA) followed with quantum-inspired approaches to modelling language and vision in AI. Ronald de Wolf (CWI & UvA, QuSoft) concluded with an overview of quantum computing, linking it to Zuidema’s AI analysis. A panel discussion with Christian Schaffner (UvA, QuSoft) and chaired by Joris van Hoboken (UvA) explored common challenges, research stages, and opportunities across the two domains.
The afternoon session focused on societal themes. Evert van Nieuwenburg (Leiden University) opened with a presentation on how quantum games, such as Quantum Tic-Tac-Toe, can help people learn quantum principles. Eline de Jong (UvA) shared five lessons for embedding new technologies in society, suggesting they apply to quantum tech as well. Angela van Sprang (UvA, ILLC) presented concept-bottleneck models as tools for improved AI oversight, and Matteo Fabbri (UvA) argued for proactive standards for recommender systems and other emerging technologies. In the panel discussion, led by Zuidema, participants from both AI and quantum backgrounds reflected on responsible innovation and the risks and opportunities of uncertain technological futures.
