The Person in Charge of Testing Tech for US Spies Has Resigned
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Summary
Rick Muller, who heads up the US Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity unit (IARPA), which tests new technology for use by intelligence agencies, informed colleagues last week of his intention to leave at the end of July to take up a position with quantum computing company IonQ.
Muller’s exit comes as the Trump administration looks to reduce government departments as part of attempts to streamline operations, although IARPA itself has not been a specific target of the cuts.
Muller will be joining a race to commercialise quantum computing, also involving the likes of Amazon, IBM and Google.
IARPA’s research is public and includes developments in facial and speech recognition among other areas.
