Bob Schwartz

“I think I can safely say that no one understands quantum mechanics.”
Richard Feynman, winner of Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on quantum mechanics

“God does not play dice with the universe”
Albert Einstein

Today is World Quantum Day, a celebration of quantum science.

Understanding quantum science is a tall task for most of us. Richard Feynman said, “I think I can safely say that no one understands quantum mechanics.” Feynman won a Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on quantum mechanics. If he and his colleagues didn’t understand it, what chance do we have?

Understand we should try to, because quantum science is as important as any of our particular developments and achievements, including AI. Understanding AI, particularly the future possibilities of AI, is best done through a quantum lens. On just one point, the question of whether we can “control” the future of AI, a quantum answer could be “of course not.”

Einstein was not a fan of quantum science. “God does not play dice with the universe,” he said. A mechanistic universe might be challenging to describe—who better than Einstein to know that—but mechanistic it would appear to be. Or not. If everything is, or at least some things are, indeterminate, how can we talk about a unified reality? Unless there is no unified reality, at least not in a conventional sense.

Quantum science as a formal study is a recent development. But students of religion know that quantum thinking was long ago developed in various traditions, particularly but not solely in Buddhism. Jewish non-Buddhists, for example, can turn to the Book of Ecclesiastes/Kohelet for the perspective that everything changes and in fact may be illusory. Deal with everything as it comes and changes, and while you do, have a good time.

Roll some dice today. Consider that God might indeed play dice with the universe. Or that the universe plays dice with itself.

For quantum soundtrack, I am inclined to go with minimalist or ambient music. For edgier, maybe avant garde. Erik Satie, Philip Glass, Brian Eno, John Cage.

© 2026 Bob Schwartz