Atlus shrugged

Atlus shrugged

Advance quantum optimisation research within MathQuEST and shape secure, trustworthy technologies for the quantum era.

Quantum Zeitgeist

Juliette Fletcher compares heating demand in real homes and shows why heat pump smart controls and new heating habits matter most when temperatures fall

VIDÉO - L'annonce de la candidature de Teddy Riner à la présidentielle 2027 continue de faire réagir le monde économique. Interrogé sur cet engagement, l'ancien président du Medef Pierre Gattaz a salu...

University of Tennessee researchers improve Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) performance on graphs using a new decomposition method.

The article explores the concept of 'efficiency' and how the relentless pursuit of optimisation can lead to unintended consequences. It begins with the example of hospital bed occupancy in England, where 95% of beds were occupied during flu season, leaving no room for unexpected surges in patients. This illustrates the first trap of optimisation: removing slack from systems, which makes them vulnerable to disruptions. The second trap is having a narrow definition of 'best', as seen in Milton Keynes' roundabout-heavy road system that prioritised traffic flow over passenger comfort. The third trap involves conflicting optimisations, demonstrated by the 2010 Flash Crash in US financial markets where automated trading algorithms caused extreme volatility. The article then connects these traps to artificial intelligence, warning that AI systems might remove human oversight, focus narrowly on measurable metrics while ignoring judgment or empathy, and interact in unpredictable ways when multiple systems collaborate. The authors argue that the challenge isn't just finding the best answer but deciding what 'best' really means and knowing what not to optimise away. The piece concludes by emphasising that while optimisation has brought significant societal benefits, avoiding these traps is crucial as optimisation becomes more powerful.