Microsoft's big quantum bet
Tech Life
BBC
4.3 • 227 Ratings
🗓️ 2 June 2026
⏱️ 27 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Microsoft unveils a new quantum chip. It's a big moment for the company, as its quantum programme has faced criticism. Is the tech giant's strategy finally paying off? And when will this chip deliver practical quantum computing? The BBC's Technology Editor, Zoe Kleinman, interviews Microsoft's executive vice president for quantum.
Also this week: what new tech can soccer fans expect at the World Cup? Shiona McCallum reports from FIFA headquarters in Switzerland. And a leading critic of AI hype returns to Tech Life.
Presenter: Chris Vallance Producer: Tom Quinn
(Photo: A hand is seen holding the new Majorana 2 quantum chip from Microsoft. The chip is gold-coloured. It is so large that it is the same size as the hand. Credit: Microsoft)
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, music, radio podcasts. |
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| 0:33.5 | Then you met. |
| 0:34.3 | Then we met. |
| 0:35.2 | The Gift. |
| 0:36.1 | Listen on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:39.2 | Hi, this is TechLife on the BBC World Service, the program about technology and how it's changing our world. |
| 0:45.8 | I'm Chris Valence. |
| 0:47.1 | This week, technology giant Microsoft unveils a new quantum chip, a big moment from a company whose quantum program has faced criticism and |
| 0:56.6 | reversals. Is their strategy finally paying off? Zoe Kleinman brings us the latest. And a little later, |
| 1:04.3 | Shona McCallum laces up her boots to tell us about tech at the FIFA World Cup. |
| 1:10.1 | Obviously, if you bounce the ball, you'll see much bigger touch, |
| 1:13.2 | and this just gives you an idea of the sensitivity of the ball. |
| 1:16.8 | And as an alternative to all the hype, |
| 1:19.8 | we catch up with one of the best-known scrutineers of generative AI. |
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