Key Takeaways
- Charina Chou, Google’s Quantum AI COO, explained that restrictive requirements attached to the funding would have hindered the company’s innovation timeline
- Specific requirements tied to the $2B federal program remain undisclosed
- Nine companies received letters of intent, including IBM, GlobalFoundries, Rigetti, PsiQuantum, and Quantinuum
- Other major players like Microsoft and IonQ were similarly excluded from the recipient list
- Shares of GOOGL declined approximately 2.51% to trade near $347.46 during Thursday’s session
Alphabet (GOOGL) has finally addressed its notable absence from President Trump’s $2 billion federal quantum computing program — and the explanation centers on maintaining development velocity.
During the Semafor Tech Summit held in San Francisco on June 10, Charina Chou, Chief Operating Officer of Google Quantum AI, revealed that the tech giant deliberately opted out because the strings attached to the federal money would have compromised its ability to advance quantum computing development at its preferred tempo.
GOOGL stock declined roughly 2.51% to approximately $347.46 during Thursday trading.
The specific requirements linked to the federal program haven’t been publicly revealed. However, Chou emphasized that Google maintains collaborative relationships with federal agencies through alternative channels and backs government funding for foundational quantum science research.
The $2B federal program took the form of letters of intent rather than binding agreements. Its objective was to bolster America’s quantum computing infrastructure and counter China’s expanding influence in this emerging technology domain.
In May 2026, nine organizations were designated as intended recipients. The roster featured IBM (IBM), GlobalFoundries (GFS), Quantinuum, PsiQuantum, Rigetti Computing (RGTI), and Infleqtion (INFQ).
Notable Absences from the Federal Program
Alphabet, Microsoft (MSFT), and IonQ (IONQ) were conspicuously missing from the recipient roster. Until Chou’s remarks this week, no formal explanation had been provided.
Neither IonQ nor Microsoft has issued comparable public statements regarding their exclusion from the program.
The omission of three prominent quantum computing enterprises from this federal initiative has sparked considerable discussion, particularly given their substantial resources and ongoing investments in quantum technology.
Perspectives on Federal Support
Pete Shadbolt, co-founder of PsiQuantum, championed the importance of government backing. He characterized it as “really natural” given quantum computing’s implications for national security interests.
However, this perspective isn’t universally embraced. The conversation surrounding whether government participation accelerates or impedes commercial quantum advancement appears to be intensifying.
IBM’s quantum computing leader Scott Crowder shared a developmental roadmap during the same conference. He projected that IBM anticipates delivering its first commercially scalable quantum system by 2029.
This timeline positions IBM approximately three years away from achieving a significant benchmark — while still operating under letters of intent with the Trump administration’s funding program.
Alphabet hasn’t indicated whether it would consider joining future federal programs should the attached conditions be modified.
RGTI stock climbed approximately 2.38% on Thursday, whereas IBM declined about 1.35%.
