Do Quantum Androids Dream of Electric Cats? ~ Prof. Gerard Milburn

In this episode, Prof. Gerard J. Milburn explores the foundations of quantum mechanics—wave function collapse, measurement, and the meaning of the observer—before connecting these ideas to spacetime, irreversibility, and the relational nature of time. The conversation then moves into quantum technologies, revealing how quantum computers differ fundamentally from classical machines, why they can achieve dramatic efficiency gains, and what entirely new possibilities they may unlock. Prof. Milburn closes by discussing his work on quantum gravity and quantum learning machines, and reflects on how grappling with quantum theory reshaped his understanding of reality itself—offering powerful advice for the next generation of physicists stepping into one of the deepest intellectual frontiers of our time.