  The quantum autoencoder is a recent paradigm in the field of quantum machine
learning, which may enable an enhanced use of resources in quantum
technologies. To this end, quantum neural networks with less nodes in the inner
than in the outer layers were considered. Here, we propose a useful connection
between approximate quantum adders and quantum autoencoders. Specifically, this
link allows us to employ optimized approximate quantum adders, obtained with
genetic algorithms, for the implementation of quantum autoencoders for a
variety of initial states. Furthermore, we can also directly optimize the
quantum autoencoders via genetic algorithms. Our approach opens a different
path for the design of quantum autoencoders in controllable quantum platforms.
