When I first hear that someone begins in music and ends up in advanced quantum research, it sounds like two entirely different lives. But speaking with Shahaf Asban, Head of Research & Principal Scientist at Classiq, I see the connection immediately: curiosity paired with practical problem-solving. His career arc—acoustics to algorithms, electrical engineering to quantum information theory—shows how skills from one field can illuminate the next.
In quantum sensing, Shahaf finds a deep resonance between the classical and the quantum. Classical measurement is familiar territory; quantum methods expand the instrument set, adding the strange but powerful tools of superposition and entanglement. These properties don’t replace classical thinking—they extend it, unlocking sensitivities beyond what was possible before.
Shahaf views quantum computing through a clear lens. Yes, it’s probabilistic, like AI in some ways, but the resemblance ends there. AI’s uncertainty comes from model training and data variability; quantum’s stems from the physics itself. This difference shapes everything—from algorithm design to how hardware and software must be built as a single, interdependent system.
One of his most grounded lessons is about noise. Not just the “hiss” we imagine in electronics, but subtle interferences—crosstalk between qubits, temperature drifts, imperfect measurements. Reducing noise below the error-correction threshold isn’t just a technical challenge; it’s the gatekeeper for progress.
Shahaf tempers excitement about quantum’s future with realism. Breakthroughs are inevitable, especially in quantum chemistry, materials design, and drug discovery within the next decade. But hype is dangerous—overpromising risks public and investor fatigue.
He expects quantum access to follow a cloud-based model, much like high-performance computing today. The real skill will be in “selling” quantum to decision-makers: showing measurable, end-to-end value instead of abstract promise.
Mentorship, for Shahaf, is a mutual exchange. Teaching sharpens his own understanding; fresh perspectives keep his thinking adaptable.
From Shahaf, I learn that interdisciplinary growth isn’t accidental—it’s cultivated. And in quantum, as in music, the beauty lies in tuning complexity into something precise, resonant, and human.
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