Bill Wisotsky, Principal Quantum Systems Architect (R&D, SAS) on the Future of Computing
- Aspiring to be a police officer and the career shift after failing the medical test
- Choosing neuroscience over animal behavior during graduate school, sparking interest in quantum
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Overview
Bill Wisotsky didn’t always plan to be a technologist. He originally aspired to law enforcement, but a failed eyesight test steered him toward psychology, neuroscience, and ultimately quantum computing. His curiosity and willingness to pivot highlight the importance of embracing unexpected opportunities for growth.
00:45 – Three Career Inflection Points:
- Aspiring to be a police officer and the career shift after failing the medical test
- Choosing neuroscience over animal behavior during graduate school, sparking interest in quantum
- Joining a biotech startup, which led to data analytics roles and eventually SAS
08:15 – Early Interest in Technology:
- Childhood fascination with Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and early personal computers (VIC-20, PET, Apple IIe)
- Hands-on exposure to programming and experimentation
10:43 – Quantum Physics as a Professional Passion:
- Studying the human visual cortex led to learning about photons and quantum mechanics
- The COVID-19 pandemic created time to dive deep into quantum SDKs like Qiskit, PennyLane, and D-Wave’s Ocean
15:03 – SAS and Its Role in the Quantum Era:
- SAS evolved from a programming environment to a leader in analytics and AI
- SAS Viya: cloud-based analytics and positioning as the “honest voice of AI”
21:03 – Quantum Software Landscape:
- Major SDKs explored: Qiskit (IBM), PennyLane (Xanadu), D-Wave Ocean, QuEra Blockade, Quantinuum Tket
- Challenge of fragmented toolsets and the need for vendor-agnostic orchestration
27:44 – Quantum Hardware Players:
- Superconducting qubits: IBM, Google
- Trapped ions: IonQ
- Neutral atoms: QuEra
- Photonics: Xanadu
- Importance of vendor accessibility and collaboration
39:02 – Simplifying Quantum for Enterprises:
- SAS acts as a meta-layer/orchestration platform, making quantum accessible
- Assessment: Is quantum necessary, or will classical computing suffice?
- Hybrid approaches leverage quantum in AI/ML pipelines
RESOURCES:
Learn more about Bill Wisotsky: LinkedIn
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A leap from academia into the startup world building technology for infant vision tests led, somehow, into predictive modeling at Cablevision. There, SAS (the analytics giant) entered the mix.
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- Aspiring to be a police officer and the career shift after failing the medical test
- Choosing neuroscience over animal behavior during graduate school, sparking interest in quantum
- Joining a biotech startup, which led to data analytics roles and eventually SAS
