Tech companies including Google, Microsoft and IBM are all working on plans for a commercially viable quantum computer. They say that these machines will be able to solve climate change, help develop new pharmaceutical drugs and transform our economy. But harnessing quantum physics requires overcoming massive challenges. As researchers tinker away on uber-sensitive, ultra-cold quantum computers and investors become increasingly interested in the potential commercial applications – some people in the quantum computing world aren’t buying the hype.In this episode of Tech Tonic, FT innovation editor John Thornhill travels to the West Coast to visit Julie Love and Krysta Svore, both of Microsoft’s quantum computing programme, and tours Google’s quantum computing lab with engineer Erik Lucero. We hear from Bessemer Venture Partners’ investor David Cowan, and FT artificial intelligence editor Madhumita Murgia talks to long-time quantum computing researcher Sankar Das Sarma.Presented by Madhumita Murgia and John Thornhill, produced by Josh Gabert-Doyon and Edwin Lane. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design by Breen Turner and Samantha Giovinco. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.We're keen to hear more from our listeners about this show and want to know what you'd like to hear more of, so we're running a survey which you can find at ft.com/techtonicsurvey. It takes about 10 minutes to complete and you will be in with a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The largest US banks have banded together to deposit $30bn into First Republic Bank in an attempt to bolster its finances, the European Central Bank has raised interest rates by half a percentage point, Emmanuel Macron failed a critical parliamentary test and chose to override lawmakers to pass his unpopular plan to raise France’s retirement age, and the FT’s Stephen Morris explains why HSBC took a chance on Silicon Valley Bank UK. Mentioned in this podcast:Wall Street banks to deposit $30bn into First RepublicECB increases rates by 0.5 percentage pointsMacron to pass pension reform by decree as protests sweep FranceWhy HSBC swooped on SVB UKDownload the FT Edit app here: ft.com/fteditThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Swiss central bank said it would provide a liquidity backstop to Credit Suisse, UK chancellor Jeremy Hunt unveiled a Budget that includes a £4bn expansion of free childcare, and Volkswagen is increasing its investments in electric vehicles.Mentioned in this podcast:Swiss central bank offers Credit Suisse liquidity backstop after share plungeJeremy Hunt’s “Budget for growth” boosts UK childcare VW ramps up investments in electric car transition with €180bn injectionDownload the FT Edit app here: ft.com/fteditThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world’s largest private investment firms are exploring the purchase of loans from the remains of Silicon Valley Bank, the Federal Reserve is caught between high inflation and financial instability, and US regulators are facing questions over whether they missed signs of mounting problems at SVB. Plus, Australia, the US and the UK announced details of a long-term plan to supply Australia with nuclear-powered submarines.Mentioned in this podcast:Buyout titans weigh purchases from Silicon Valley Bank loan bookUS consumer prices rise 6% at tricky time for Fed amid SVB falloutRegulators face questions over missed warning signs at Silicon Valley BankAukus defence pact’s political pay-off will be a jobs bonanzaSilicon Valley Bank Webinar: Register HereDownload the FT Edit app here: ft.com/fteditThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The collapse of Silicon Valley bank rattled global markets, investors continue to worry about banks, US regional banks were hit hard by a sell-off, and venture capitalists are pointing fingers at each other for their role in the bank run on SVB that precipitated its demise. Mentioned in this podcast:California bank failure shakes global financial stocksUS and European bank stocks tumble as investors fret over SVB falloutFirst Republic and other US regional banks tumble over fears of deposit flightRecriminations fly as venture capitalists contemplate Silicon Valley Bank’s collapseBiden audio credit: C-SpanDownload the FT Edit app here: ft.com/fteditThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is leading an auction to find a potential buyer for Silicon Valley Bank after the US government said it would help depositors in its efforts to stop contagion across the banking sector. Plus, the boom in disposable vaping devices is not just adding to health concerns but leading to tonnes of electronic waste. Mentioned in this podcast:Silicon Valley Bank: the spectacular unravelling of the tech industry’s bankerUK government tried to find buyer for SVB unit UK chancellor prepares lifeline for UK companies hit by SVB collapseThe environmental cost of single-use vapes Download the FT Edit app here: ft.com/fteditThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the cybersecurity world they call it Q-Day, the day when a quantum computer will be built that can break the encryption of the internet.John Thornhill and Madhumita Murgia speak to cybersecurity expert and former professional hacker Mark Carney about password cracking, and why quantum computers would be so good at it.Renowned mathematician Peter Shor recounts how he became the first person to discover that quantum computers could upturn the encryption that underpins much of the internet. Jack Hidary, boss of the quantum technology company Sandbox AQ, tells us how quantum computers already pose a threat today, even if it’s decades before one powerful enough to threaten encryption will be built. And cryptographer Dan Bernstein explains why protecting ourselves from the quantum threat might just be down to better maths.Presented by Madhumita Murgia and John Thornhill, produced by Josh Gabert-Doyon and Edwin Lane. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design by Breen Turner and Samantha Giovinco. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.We're keen to hear more from our listeners about this show and want to know what you'd like to hear more of, so we're running a survey which you can find at ft.com/techtonicsurvey. It takes about 10 minutes to complete and you will be in with a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A US bank index suffered the worst one-day fall in market value since June 2020, the first France-UK summit in five years will focus on resetting relations, Mexico’s currency hit a five-year high this week despite its struggling economy, and former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng was sentenced to 10 years in prison for fraud.Mentioned in this podcast:Investors dump US bank shares amid fears over value of bond portfoliosMexico’s peso hits five-year high on interest rates and US benefitsFrance and UK aim to draw a line under post-Brexit tensionsFormer Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng sentenced to 10 years for 1MDB fraudDownload the FT Edit app here: ft.com/fteditThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EY employees were told that the plan to spin off the consulting business needs to be reworked, and Chinese president Xi Jinping is preparing to shore up financial stability at home while trying to keep up in an intense rivalry with the US over technology. Plus the FT’s Chris Giles explains just how bad a state the British economy is in.  Mentioned in this podcast:EY split paused amid partner infighting over fate of tax expertsWhat does Xi Jinping’s tighter regulatory grip on China mean for business?Cathie Wood’s flagship Ark fund tops $300mn in fees despite lossesThe UK economy has a London problem — but it’s not what you thinkDownload the FT Edit app here: ft.com/fteditThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jay Powell warned US lawmakers that the Federal Reserve is prepared to return to bigger interest rate rises to fight inflation, and the US gender pay gap has barely budged in the past two decades. Plus, the FT’s Ortenca Aliaj explains how Hindenburg Research may have shorted Adani stocks.Mentioned in this podcast:How did Hindenburg short Adani stock?Jay Powell warns Fed is prepared to return to bigger interest rate risesWomen still struggling to close corporate America’s gender gapCredit: C-SPAN Federal Reserve Chair Testifies on Monetary Policy and the EconomyDownload the FT Edit app here: ft.com/fteditThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.