Latest news with #DeMasi
CNBC
5 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
'The era of quantum supremacy is just around the corner,' IonQ CEO says
IonQ CEO Niccolo de Masi told CNBC's Jim Cramer on Thursday that major advances in quantum computing are fast-approaching. "The era of what's called quantum supremacy is just around the corner," De Masi said. "It's coming in quarters and very low single-digit years, and that's getting people, obviously, pretty excited about the fact that we'll be able to do things to help every area of applied science." IonQ is one of the major players in the quantum computing space, along with Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Quantum and Quantum Computing. The company is developing both quantum computers and quantum networking equipment, De Masi said. Wall Street's interest in quantum computing is growing as tech titans like Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon and IBM, as well as the U.S. government, spend millions to the develop quantum computers. The technology aims to solve problems that are too complex for classical computers using quantum mechanics. Investors were particularly excited by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's bullish comments on quantum computing last month. Huang said quantum computing is "reaching an inflection point" and indicated that practical uses cases are coming faster than he previously expected. De Masi described the way quantum computing could lead to breakthroughs in the healthcare and pharmaceutical fields. He touted his company's partnership with Nvidia, AWS and AstraZeneca for a research project related to drug development. Looking at molecules through a quantum lens will lead to breakthroughs in drug discovery, he suggested. IonQ is part of the global race to advance quantum computing, De Masi said. He said his company is a major player in cracking RSA, a widely-used encryption algorithm. "We are racing China, we believe, almost single handedly, for the Western world, if you will, to be the RSA cracker," De Masi said. "And, of course, when that happens, everybody's going to need our quantum networking equipment to make sure that the world as we know it, and civilization as we know it, goes on." Click here to download Jim Cramer's Guide to Investing at no cost to help you build long-term wealth and invest The CNBC Investing Club Charitable Trust owns shares of Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon and Nvidia.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Horry County solicitor says he has no knowledge of luxury items mentioned in procurement lawsuit
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — The Horry County solicitor on Friday addressed lawsuit allegations about misuse of government spending cards by county employees, including claims that they were used to buy golf clubs, TVs and other items that appeared to have been shipped to private residences. Two former Horry County procurement officials fired last June were in the midst of a 'broad, sweeping investigation' into the potential misuse of the purchasing cards by judicial branch employees, state and federal lawsuits allege. Lauren DeMasi, who worked as procurement specialist for the county, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Florence on March 31, naming the county, Assistant Human Resoures Director Katie Badgett, employee Tara Chestnut-Smith, Director of Airports Judi Olmstead, Procurement Director Tammy Stevens, Administrator Barry Spivey and employee April Kelly. Jessica Williams, who worked as the deputy director of the procurement department, followed with a lawsuit in Horry County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday. It named the county, Chestnut-Smith and Kelly. Both complaints also accuse officials of violating the state's whistleblower act, wrongful termination and defamation, among other things. DeMasi's lawsuit says she made a troubling discovery last summer while reviewing an employee expense spreadsheet: Many purchases made by the county's magistrate and solicitor's offices had delivery addresses not tied to public property and were instead sent to private residences. '(DeMasi) realized during this process that it appeared that Horry County procurement funds were being impermissibly used to direct goods such as golf equipment, large-screen televisions and other luxury items to the homes of Horry County employees,' her lawsuit says. Solicitor Jimmy Richardson addressed that allegation in a lengthy email statement on Friday, in which he said it was an effort to be 'transparent.' Because 'the complaint could have been better drafted, I wanted to provide this individualized accounting.' 'I know nothing about items such as golf clubs or televisions; however, I was asked about 17 specific boxes that were sent to an employee's address in the 2023 and 2024 fiscal years,' Richardson said. 'All of these items were delivered to a home address because delivery was scheduled when the office was closed (weekends or after hours). Also, that office where delivery is usually made is not located in the courthouse and there is no secured mailroom.' Richardson explained what was in each of the 17 boxes — saying they all contained items used exclusively for work purposes. He said five of the boxes were textbooks for domestic violence defendants and treatment court clients. Another box, according to Richardson, contained textbooks called 'Responsible Decisions' and 'My Personal Journey.' 'Boxes seven and eight were full of graduation tassels and robes and were used for treatment court graduations,' he said. 'Box nine was full of diplomas for treatment court graduates.' The eight other boxes had items like crowd control barriers, magnets and decorations with inspirational quotes for treatment court, urine testing strips for drug tests, office furniture, urine collection cups, air purifiers and two Ring doorbells, Richardson said. 'None of these items are luxury items,' he said. 'All of these items are work items. All of these items are currently at treatment court and were brought to treatment court within 48 hours of delivery. All receipts have been kept and provided to the county auditors and public safety director and the procurement director.' Richardson said he will not comment further about the allegations. * * * Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
