QuEra Uses Claude to Automate Quantum Computer Laser Control

QuEra Computing said in a press release that Anthropic's Claude developed and validated control software for a laser system in a QuEra quantum computer. The company said the system can recover laser control in seconds, replacing manual work that previously required a specialist.

The work used the Model Hardware Standard, a limited research preview for AI agents operating physical equipment within declared bounds, interlocks, and emergency stops. Engineers set the scope, reviewed steps, and approved evidence of success. The resulting controller is a conventional program that can be inspected, rather than a model making decisions during operation.

In 700 timed trials across seven fault types, the controller returned the system to target in 695 cases and did not report success when it failed. The five misses were tied to a test rig condition. Most recoveries took under six seconds, while the hardest took roughly 10 to 14 seconds, compared with five to 10 minutes for a specialist.

The agent also tuned laser lock quality, cutting residual noise by a factor of five and preventing dropouts during unattended runs. On a second laser wavelength, it set parameters from scratch during one unattended overnight run. QuEra plans to apply the same approach to other quantum computer subsystems.