Latest news with #EladNafshi
Hindustan Times
02-08-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Here's How Quantum Computing Could Change the World
With commercial grade quantum computers inching closer to reality, industries are already investigating their impact on everything, from food to medicine to streaming football games. Quantum computers are expected to power certain computations that would take today's conventional computers years to solve, if they could at all. Several companies promise commercial systems in the coming years, including IBM, which plans to deliver the world's first full scale fault-tolerant machine by 2029. 'Quantum today is kind of where GPUs were in 2012,' said IBM Chief Executive Arvind Krishna, referring to the chip that powered the AI boom. 'In 2012, nobody was counting on GPUs as a big business. But I think it's going to go faster.' Companies today are working to figure out which of their business cases are best suited for quantum computing, even rewriting some scenarios as quantum software designed for future machines. But even as they look forward to the business and societal value quantum promises, they're preparing for the risks that come with it: primarily the threat that quantum computers could break encryption and lay bare all our sensitive data. Here are five ways quantum could change the world: Faster internet Comcast said quantum could help it deliver the fastest internet to the largest number of customers who need it at any given time. The company operates over a million miles of fiber and cable that deliver internet to 31.5 million homes and businesses. That means that for any piece of data to travel from Point A to Point B, there's a near infinite number of combinations, said Elad Nafshi, Comcast's chief network officer. Data going into New York for example, could travel along the George Washington Bridge, the Lincoln Tunnel or the Amtrak train tracks, he said. And the fastest route also depends on other factors like, if there's a fiber cut somewhere or a big surge of data into New York while everyone streams the Giants game. Being able to calculate, in real time, all those variables to determine the optimal flow of data and deliver it at the fastest speeds for the highest number of people is something conventional computers struggle with. But, 'that's something that Quantum could do extremely well,' Nafshi said. Better medicine Moderna is looking into whether quantum could help it develop medicines that would work effectively in smaller doses, with fewer side effects and be more cost effective to produce. Moderna makes medicine by producing mRNA molecules that teach the body how to make a specific protein. Those proteins then help the immune system target certain diseases. But for each given mRNA molecule it's looking to create, there's a countless number of possible combinations of nucleotide building blocks and sequences, according to Wade Davis, head of Digital for Business at Moderna. How many combinations exactly? For the Covid-19 vaccine there were 10 to the power of 623 different options just for a fragment of an mRNA molecule, Davis said. So it's virtually impossible to brute force calculate what an optimal nucleotide sequence would be, he said. 'All computers currently existing today going for a trillion years couldn't produce that result.' But it's a problem Moderna is investigating with early tests on IBM's small-scale quantum computer, and results are promising, Davis said. More affordable insurance Allstate CEO Tom Wilson said quantum computing could help his company insure more properties at better prices. Allstate already has digital images of nearly every roof in America, and quantum could simulate the impact of certain weather on each specific property over a period of years or decades, offering much more specific prices, he said. Today's pricing models are simpler and don't take into account every possible risk factor, the company said. But Quantum could be poised to help. 'It would just run billions of simulations,' he said. 'Quantum computing could help us get the right price for every house…And that's impossible to do with today's algorithms.' More sustainable food production Startup PsiQuantum said it was investigating whether quantum computing could help find more energy-efficient methods for producing nitrogen fertilizer, a critical component in the world's food production. Traditionally, producing nitrogen-based fertilizer has required huge amounts of heat and energy, said PsiQuantum CEO and co-founder Jeremy O'Brien. Nature has a more efficient way of making it — one that requires less heat and uses an enzyme called nitrogenase. 'We cannot simulate even a small part of that enzyme on any conventional computer that we have, nor on any conventional computer that we could ever build,' O'Brien said. Now PsiQuantum is building the quantum algorithms that could ultimately reverse engineer that enzyme. The underlying goal, he said, is simple: feeding the world. And…some big risks Quantum computers also have the potential to break the cryptography we use today to secure our data. Businesses are now working to implement new quantum-safe encryption standards, at the guidance of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Still a threat known as 'harvest now, decrypt later,' means bad actors could already be collecting encrypted data they plan to decrypt at a later point once quantum computers become capable. According to former Director of Naval Intelligence Matthew Kohler, there's not a whole lot we can do about that. Kohler is now a senior counselor at consulting firm the Cohen Group. 'The horse is really literally out of the barn on this,' he said. 'Quantum has so often been spoken about as something that was always coming in the next five or 10 years,' Kohler said. 'The conversations are changing dramatically because it's now no longer 10 years down the road. It's much closer.' Write to Isabelle Bousquette at
Globe and Mail
07-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Comcast's Network Traffic Increased More Than 75% While Energy Efficiency Nearly Doubled Over Past Five Years
Comcast today announced that it is on the cusp of reaching the company's goal to double its network energy efficiency, well ahead of its 2030 target. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: 'We've known for a long time that the future of connectivity is more – more gaming, more streaming, more video conferencing, and, in recent years, more AI,' said Elad Nafshi, Executive Vice President and Chief Network Officer at Comcast. 'We're delivering dramatically more data at faster speeds and greater reliability at the highest quality for our customers, all while conserving the amount of energy needed to power our network. With an ambitious roadmap to meet growing demand, I'm proud of our leadership and progress on network energy efficiency.' Comcast reported an 11% reduction in energy used to power the network and business from 2019 to 2024, leveraging leaner and smarter technologies that process more customer traffic with less electricity. At the same time, Comcast's network traffic has grown by 76% from 2019 to 2024, meeting increasing customer demand for data fueled by streaming, gaming, sports, and business. The energy savings combined with network growth have resulted in a 49% reduction in electricity per consumed byte since 2019 – nearing the company's goal to double network energy efficiency by 2030. Comcast decreased the electricity per consumed byte from 18.4 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per terabyte (TB) in 2019 to 9.3 kWh/TB in 2024. The efficiency gains have been achieved through Comcast's ongoing nationwide network transformation to virtualized, cloud-based technologies that deliver faster broadband speeds and greater reliability with less equipment, less space, and less energy per byte. 'Our network is being transformed to enable customers to seamlessly connect to the AI revolution and to leverage it in their day to day,' Nafshi said. 'At the same time, we are building in cutting edge network AI to optimize how we deliver our services with sustainability in mind.' Comcast is embedding AI and machine learning throughout the network to improve diagnostics and make smarter network performance decisions. This includes enhanced monitoring and issue detection using bandwidth-efficient telemetry data as well as improved network maintenance using real-time issue localization plus predictive and self-healing network intelligence – actions that increase efficiency and improve the customer experience. Comcast is also driving improvement through accelerated decommissioning of legacy equipment and enhancement of technical facilities – for example, through temperature set point optimization and improved air flow at datacenters. 'Driving energy efficiency is a natural evolution of how we meet growing customer demand and makes great business sense, especially as we make significant investments into our network and collaborate with suppliers to deploy the latest technologies,' said Ryan Capone, VP of Network Facilities & Energy at Comcast. 'We've now laid the technological groundwork to deliver a fast, efficient, and reliable customer experience, while preparing to leverage AI to further drive efficiency in the future.' About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. From the connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and attractions to life through Universal Destinations & Experiences. Visit for more information. Forward-Looking Statements This communication includes estimates, projections and statements regarding plans and goals that may constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. For more information on these statements, please see
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Comcast's Network Traffic Increased More Than 75% While Energy Efficiency Nearly Doubled Over Past Five Years
End-to-end network and cloud technologies enabled a 49% reduction in electricity per consumed byte since 2019. PHILADELPHIA, July 07, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Comcast today announced that it is on the cusp of reaching the company's goal to double its network energy efficiency, well ahead of its 2030 target. "We've known for a long time that the future of connectivity is more – more gaming, more streaming, more video conferencing, and, in recent years, more AI," said Elad Nafshi, Executive Vice President and Chief Network Officer at Comcast. "We're delivering dramatically more data at faster speeds and greater reliability at the highest quality for our customers, all while conserving the amount of energy needed to power our network. With an ambitious roadmap to meet growing demand, I'm proud of our leadership and progress on network energy efficiency." Comcast reported an 11% reduction in energy used to power the network and business from 2019 to 2024, leveraging leaner and smarter technologies that process more customer traffic with less electricity. At the same time, Comcast's network traffic has grown by 76% from 2019 to 2024, meeting increasing customer demand for data fueled by streaming, gaming, sports, and business. The energy savings combined with network growth have resulted in a 49% reduction in electricity per consumed byte since 2019 – nearing the company's goal to double network energy efficiency by 2030. Comcast decreased the electricity per consumed byte from 18.4 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per terabyte (TB) in 2019 to 9.3 kWh/TB in 2024. The efficiency gains have been achieved through Comcast's ongoing nationwide network transformation to virtualized, cloud-based technologies that deliver faster broadband speeds and greater reliability with less equipment, less space, and less energy per byte. "Our network is being transformed to enable customers to seamlessly connect to the AI revolution and to leverage it in their day to day," Nafshi said. "At the same time, we are building in cutting edge network AI to optimize how we deliver our services with sustainability in mind." Comcast is embedding AI and machine learning throughout the network to improve diagnostics and make smarter network performance decisions. This includes enhanced monitoring and issue detection using bandwidth-efficient telemetry data as well as improved network maintenance using real-time issue localization plus predictive and self-healing network intelligence – actions that increase efficiency and improve the customer experience. Comcast is also driving improvement through accelerated decommissioning of legacy equipment and enhancement of technical facilities – for example, through temperature set point optimization and improved air flow at datacenters. "Driving energy efficiency is a natural evolution of how we meet growing customer demand and makes great business sense, especially as we make significant investments into our network and collaborate with suppliers to deploy the latest technologies," said Ryan Capone, VP of Network Facilities & Energy at Comcast. "We've now laid the technological groundwork to deliver a fast, efficient, and reliable customer experience, while preparing to leverage AI to further drive efficiency in the future." About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. From the connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and attractions to life through Universal Destinations & Experiences. Visit for more information. Forward-Looking Statements This communication includes estimates, projections and statements regarding plans and goals that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. For more information on these statements, please see View source version on Contacts Press: chandler_clay@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Comcast to Participate in New Street Research Investor Conference
PHILADELPHIA, March 07, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) announced that on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, Elad Nafshi, Executive Vice President and Chief Network Officer of Comcast Cable, will participate in the New Street Research and BCG Future of Connectivity Leaders Conference. A live webcast of the event will be available on the Company's Investor Relations website at on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 4:45 P.M. Eastern Time. An on-demand replay will be available shortly after the conclusion of the presentation. To automatically receive Comcast financial news by email, please visit our Investor Relations website and subscribe to Email Alerts. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. From the connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and attractions to life through Universal Destinations & Experiences. Visit for more information. View source version on Contacts Investor Contacts: Marci Ryvicker (215) 286-4781Jane Kearns (215) 286-4794Marc Kaplan (215) 286-6527 Press Contacts: Jennifer Khoury (215) 286-7408John Demming (215) 286-8011
