From the Dawn of the Internet and Back Again, by Sebastian Hassinger

In this episode of Technology in Science, our host speaks with Sebastian Hassinger, Worldwide Go-to-Market Lead for Quantum Technologies at Amazon Web Services (AWS). Together, they explore how innovation has evolved from the earliest days of the internet to today’s era of quantum computing and what that journey reveals about curiosity, learning, and the next generation of technology careers.

Sebastian Hassinger, Worldwide Go-to-Market Lead

Sebastian Hassinger is the Worldwide Go-to-Market Strategy Lead for Quantum Technologies at AWS and host of The New Quantum podcast. 

His career spans Apple, IBM, Oracle, and several start-ups. From pioneering Apple’s first online customer-support system to leading AWS’s global quantum strategy, he has helped shape how emerging technologies move from theory to practice. His upcoming book, The New Quantum Era, will be published by O’Reilly Media in 2025.

Key Takeaways

• Innovation begins where certainty ends.
• The rise of quantum computing mirrors the early internet’s disruptive growth.
• Curiosity and experimentation drive every breakthrough.
• AI and quantum technology are creating new machine learning jobs, AI product manager jobs, and quantum computing jobs worldwide.
• Collaboration between science and business fuels meaningful discovery.

From the Dawn of the Internet to Quantum Connectivity

Sebastian began his career at Apple in the mid-1990s, just as the internet was entering the mainstream. Alongside a small team, he created the company’s first online customer-support site, replacing mailed software updates with digital downloads.

It started when he was tired of mailing CDs every day. So he built a website, and within months it became one of the most visited pages online.

That early project, transforming manual processes into digital systems, set the stage for how Sebastian approaches innovation today. The same curiosity that drove him to reimagine online support now fuels his work in quantum computing, where the next wave of connectivity and computation is being defined. It is a journey that links the origins of the web to the future of quantum technology. Two revolutions built on the same idea, using information to solve problems faster, smarter, and more collaboratively.

Building on the Edge of Quantum Innovation

After Apple, Sebastian joined IBM, helping the company translate emerging web technology into enterprise systems. He later moved to Oracle, where he developed strategies that connected customer problems to technical solutions. Between corporate roles, he also launched start-ups focused on mobile software and early data-engineering models.

At every step, the goal was the same: explore what was possible before it became standard.

“If a problem’s already solved, I lose interest.” 

That curiosity became a guiding principle across his career and now defines many roles driving today’s technology evolution, from AI trainer jobs and machine learning specialists to AI product managers building tools that merge data and design thinking.

Entering the Quantum Era

Sebastian’s introduction to quantum computing came at an IBM summit in 2017, where he saw the potential for qubits to reshape how information is processed. The scale of the challenge and the opportunity drew him in instantly.

He began working with academic researchers who were experimenting with IBM’s quantum hardware, helping them turn theoretical ideas into practical experiments. These early collaborations demonstrated that quantum computers could do more than accelerate calculations; they could help scientists understand nature at a fundamental level.

Now at AWS, Sebastian leads initiatives within Amazon Braket, a platform offering access to multiple quantum technologies, including superconducting qubits, trapped ions, and neutral atoms. His work connects researchers and institutions worldwide, making high-end quantum tools accessible through the cloud.

Current focus areas include:

• Enabling universities to test new quantum algorithms
• Supporting government programs that advance national quantum initiatives
• Helping private companies explore real-world use cases in chemistry, logistics, and energy

Each collaboration strengthens the foundation for future quantum computing jobs and quantum mechanics jobs as the field scales from research to application.

Quantum Lessons from the Dot-Com Boom

Having lived through the internet’s early commercialization, Sebastian recognizes the similarities between that era and today’s quantum movement. The dot-com boom saw enormous enthusiasm and investment, but only the technologies that solved genuine problems endured. He says they’ll overestimate the short-term impact and underestimate the long-term impact. But he is confident that the eventual transformation will be more profound than they ever imagined.

Quantum technology is following a path marked by hype, experimentation, and meaningful progress. The difference is that quantum, unlike the internet, demands breakthroughs in both physics and computing.

That intersection is creating a wave of new career paths:

• Quantum computing jobs in the UK are focused on algorithm design and device control
• AI trainer jobs that integrate learning models with physical data
• Quantum science careers bridging academia and applied research

These multidisciplinary teams are setting the groundwork for a new era of computing, one where collaboration matters as much as code.

Why Curiosity Fuels the Future of AI and Quantum Jobs

Across decades of innovation, curiosity has remained Sebastian’s defining theme. Whether at Apple or AWS, his success has stemmed from the same instinct: keep learning, keep questioning, and keep moving toward what’s next.

“The most important thing humans have is the ability to learn new things,” he says. “If someone gets bored, give them a harder problem. That’s how progress happens.”

That same principle applies across modern technology careers. Whether in AI jobs, machine learning roles, or quantum computing, curiosity fuels the willingness to experiment, fail, and build again. It’s not about certainty, it’s about the courage to learn.

The Convergence of AI and Quantum

Artificial intelligence and quantum computing are beginning to intersect in powerful ways. Quantum systems generate new types of data, while AI helps process and interpret that data at scale. Together, they are reshaping how researchers and companies approach discovery.

The growing overlap between these fields is driving demand for hybrid expertise, including:

• AI trainer jobs focused on adaptive modeling
• Machine learning engineers creating predictive algorithms for quantum data
• Quantum engineers are improving accuracy and stability in computing hardware
• AI product managers translating research outcomes into usable applications

As these technologies mature, they will open opportunities across healthcare, materials science, and climate modeling—domains where better data means faster progress.

How Barrington James Supports Quantum and AI Innovation

At Barrington James, we partner with organizations driving progress in quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and life sciences. Our consultants connect pioneering companies with experts in software engineering, machine learning, data science, and emerging quantum technologies, building the teams that turn research into real-world solutions.

We support both permanent and contract hiring across global markets, helping companies secure AI engineers, quantum scientists, and commercial leaders who can scale innovation responsibly and compliantly.

As a trusted life sciences and deep-tech recruitment partner, Barrington James helps clients unite technology, research, and regulation to advance the next generation of healthcare and scientific breakthroughs.

Contact Us to Learn More About How We Support Quantum and AI Innovation