US's big bet on quantum computing may not be entirely legal

The US government's $2 billion investment in quantum computing companies, with $100 million allocated to various startups, is facing legal scrutiny from Congress. The funding was intended for public research in semiconductors, not equity deals with private companies. A new company, Anderon, backed by IBM and government funding, will focus on fabricating quantum processing units for IBM and other firms. Representative Zoe Lofgren criticized the use of funds from the CHIPS and Science Act for quantum computing, arguing that it deviates from the intended purpose of supporting semiconductor technology research. She raised concerns about the legality and transparency of the deals, emphasizing the need for proper allocation of government funds by Congress.