Quantum and AI Technologies: A Revolutionary Leap in Enabling AI to Feel

Jakarta, INTI - For decades, artificial intelligence (AI) has been evolving rapidly, mastering the ability to see, speak, compute, and create. Yet, one distinctly human-like capability has eluded AI—the sense of touch, or the ability to measure and discern the texture of surfaces mechanically. While AI systems today excel in visual recognition and natural language processing, their ability to differentiate between, say, the roughness of newspaper paper versus the smoothness of a magazine page, has been non-existent.

That gap may soon close, thanks to a groundbreaking discovery by researchers at the Center for Quantum Science and Engineering (CQSE) at Stevens Institute of Technology. Through a pioneering fusion of quantum technology and AI, the team has developed a method to give AI the ability to "feel" surfaces with remarkable accuracy.

Marrying Quantum Mechanics and Artificial Intelligence

"AI has largely acquired a sense of sight through advances in computer vision, but it hasn’t yet developed a human-like sense of touch," explains Yong Meng Sua, a physics professor at Stevens. Together with CQSE Director Yuping Huang and doctoral researchers Daniel Tafone and Luke McEvoy, Sua devised a system combining quantum mechanics with machine learning to create what could be described as a tactile sense for AI.

Their research, published in the prestigious journal Applied Optics (Vol. 63, No. 30), details a system that employs a photon-emitting laser to scan surfaces. This laser generates speckle noise, a random variation in light patterns that has traditionally been seen as a hindrance to imaging accuracy. However, the Stevens team reimagined speckle noise as a source of valuable data.

"We’ve created a method where the speckle noise serves as the key to decoding surface properties," says Tafone. By training AI to analyze and interpret these noise patterns, the team achieved a system capable of identifying surface textures with unprecedented precision.

Revolutionary Accuracy: The Mechanics Behind the Breakthrough

The method works by firing short bursts of laser light at a target surface and analyzing the scattered photons that return. These photons carry crucial information about the texture of the surface they encounter. The AI model processes variations in photon counts and speckle patterns to determine surface roughness with remarkable accuracy.

The team tested their method on industrial sandpaper samples with varying roughness levels, from 1 to 100 microns. (For context, a human hair is roughly 100 microns thick.) Initial tests produced an average root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 8 microns. After refining their model with additional samples, the system achieved a stunning RMSE of just 4 microns, comparable to the best industrial profilometer devices available today.

Transformative Applications in Medicine and Manufacturing

This technological advancement has vast implications across multiple fields. For instance, in medicine, the system could enhance skin cancer detection by identifying minute differences in mole textures that are too subtle for the human eye.

"Often, dermatologists may misdiagnose benign skin conditions as melanomas or vice versa," explains Huang. "With this quantum system, even tiny variations in mole roughness could be accurately measured, improving diagnostic accuracy and potentially saving lives."

In manufacturing, the technology could revolutionize quality control. Components with surface imperfections that are invisible to the naked eye can cause serious mechanical failures. Using this system, manufacturers could ensure that even the smallest defects are detected, guaranteeing the integrity of critical parts.

Integrating AI-Quantum Sensing into Modern Technology

The team also foresees applications in existing technologies like LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), which is widely used in autonomous vehicles, robotics, and smartphones. By integrating their quantum-based surface measurement capabilities, LiDAR systems could gain the ability to analyze surface properties on a micro-scale, enhancing navigation and object recognition.

"This method enriches the capabilities of existing technologies, offering precise surface measurement that was previously unattainable," notes Huang.

The Future of AI with Quantum-Enhanced Sensing

By combining quantum physics with artificial intelligence, the Stevens researchers have taken a monumental step toward equipping machines with human-like tactile abilities. This innovation could redefine industries, from healthcare and manufacturing to robotics and beyond.

As the demand for high-precision sensing grows, the fusion of quantum and AI technologies is poised to become a cornerstone of future innovations, paving the way for smarter, more perceptive machines.