Aug 22, 2025

Moving Ising Machines Forward While Taking a Step towards Quantum Networks by Multi-photon Entangled States Based on Time-bin Qubits

Solving a combinatorial optimization problem involves finding an optimal combination among a large number of options, and when the number of options becomes large, it becomes difficult to solve even with modern digital computers. We spoke with Hiroki Takesue, a senior distinguished researcher at NTT Basic Research Laboratories, who is exploring the "coherent Ising machine," a photonic computer that uses a network of optical oscillators to solve a combinatorial optimization problem. He is also studying the "quantum internet" by creating the world's first three-photon entangled state based on time-bin qubits. We asked him about his current efforts and thoughts on his research approach of working hard on site and getting outside once in a while.

Aug 22, 2025

Using Neural Networks to Enable Computers to Listen to Voices Selectively as Humans Do

We live our lives surrounded by many sounds. People are capable of "selective listening," which allows them to distinguish specific voices or sounds even when multiple people are speaking simultaneously; however, computers find selective listening difficult. If a computer could extract only desired voices or sounds, it would be possible to eliminate noise and enable the listener to hear, for example, only the sound of a doorbell or phone through headphones. This would help people working from home and those who need visual or hearing support. On this issue, we spoke with Marc Delcroix, a distinguished researcher at NTT Communication Science Laboratories, who has successfully developed technologies for extracting the voice of a desired speaker from voices of multiple speakers.