Tech Giants Unveil Quantum Computing Ambitions, Mercedes F1 Team Valued at Record $6 Billion, and Google Offers UK Employee Buyouts

Group 1: IBM and Cisco Collaboration - IBM and Cisco have announced a partnership to develop networked distributed quantum computing, aiming for a proof-of-concept demonstration by the end of 2030 [2][3] - The collaboration seeks to combine IBM's quantum computing leadership with Cisco's networking expertise, targeting a network of large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers by the early 2030s [2][3] - The envisioned network will enable computations across tens to hundreds of thousands of qubits, potentially supporting trillions of quantum gates for complex applications [3] Group 2: Mercedes F1 Team Valuation - The Mercedes Formula One team is valued at $6 billion, one of the highest valuations for a Formula One team, as Toto Wolff discusses selling a portion of his ownership stake to CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz [4][5] - Kurtz is in talks to acquire approximately 5% of Wolff's existing 33% stake, while Wolff is expected to retain his roles as CEO and team principal [5] Group 3: Google Voluntary Buyouts - Google is reportedly offering voluntary buyout packages to its UK employees as part of a cost optimization strategy and a focus on artificial intelligence investments [6][7] - This initiative follows a similar program offered to US employees earlier in the year, which included severance packages and extended health coverage [7]