Category Archives: Quantum Computing

Supermarket aisles filled with fresh produce are probably not where you would expect to discover some of the first benefits of quantum computing.

But Canadian grocery chain Save-On-Foods has become an unlikely pioneer, using quantum technology to improve the management of in-store logistics. In collaboration with quantum computing company D-Wave, Save-On-Foods is using a new type of computing, which is based on the downright weird behaviour of matter at the quantum level. And it's already seeing promising results.

The company's engineers approached D-Wave with a logistics problem that classical computers were incapable of solving. Within two months, the concept had translated into a hybrid quantum algorithm that was running in one of the supermarket stores, reducing the computing time for some tasks from 25 hours per week down to mere seconds.

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Save-On-Foods is now looking at expanding the technology to other stores, and exploring new ways that quantum could help with other issues. "We now have the capability to run tests and simulations by adjusting variables and see the results, so we can optimize performance, which simply isn't feasible using traditional methods," a Save-On-Foods spokesperson tells ZDNet.

"While the results are outstanding, the two most important things from this are that we were able to use quantum computing to attack our most complex problems across the organization, and can do it on an ongoing basis."

The remarkable properties of quantum computing boil down to the behaviour of qubits -- the quantum equivalent of classical bits that encode information for today's computers in strings of 0s and 1s. But contrary to bits, which can be represented by either 0 or 1, qubits can take on a state that is quantum-specific, in which they exist as 0 and 1 in parallel, or superposition.

Qubits, therefore, enable quantum algorithms to run various calculations at the same time, and at exponential scale: the more qubits, the more variables can be explored, and all in parallel. Some of the largest problems, which would take classical computers tens of thousands of years to explore with single-state bits, could be harnessed by qubits in minutes.

The challenge lies in building quantum computers that contain enough qubits for useful calculations to be carried out. Qubits are temperamental: they are error-prone, hard to control, and always on the verge of falling out of their quantum state. Typically, scientists have to encase quantum computers in extremely cold, large-scale refrigerators, just to make sure that qubits remain stable. That's impractical, to say the least.

This is, in essence, why quantum computing is still in its infancy. Most quantum computers currently work with less than 100 qubits, and tech giants such as IBM and Google are racing to increase that number in order to build a meaningful quantum computer as early as possible. Recently, IBM ambitiously unveiled a roadmap to a million-qubit system, and said that it expects a fault-tolerant quantum computer to be an achievable goal during the next ten years.

IBM's CEO Arvind Krishna and director of research Dario Gil in front of a ten-foot-tall super-fridge for the company's next-generation quantum computers.

Although it's early days for quantum computing, there is still plenty of interest from businesses willing to experiment with what could prove to be a significant development. "Multiple companies are conducting learning experiments to help quantum computing move from the experimentation phase to commercial use at scale," Ivan Ostojic, partner at consultant McKinsey, tells ZDNet.

Certainly tech companies are racing to be seen as early leaders. IBM's Q Network started running in 2016 to provide developers and industry professionals with access to the company's quantum processors, the latest of which, a 65-qubit device called Hummingbird, was released on the platform last month. Recently, US multinational Honeywell took its first steps on the quantum stage, making the company's trapped-ion quantum computer available to customers over the cloud. Rigetti Computing, which has been operating since 2017, is also providing cloud-based access to a 31-qubit quantum computer.

Another approach, called quantum annealing, is especially suitable for optimisation tasks such as the logistics problems faced by Save-On-Foods. D-Wave has proven a popular choice in this field, and has offered a quantum annealer over the cloud since 2010, which it has now upgraded to a 5,000-qubit-strong processor.

A quantum annealing processor is much easier to control and operate than the devices that IBM, Honeywell and Rigetti are working on, which are called gate-model quantum computers. This is why D-Wave's team has already hit much higher numbers of qubits. However, quantum annealing is only suited to specific optimisation problems, and experts argue that the technology will be comparatively limited when gate-model quantum computers reach maturity.

The suppliers of quantum processing power are increasingly surrounded by third-party companies that act as intermediaries with customers. Zapata, QC Ware or 1QBit, for example, provide tools ranging from software stacks to training, to help business leaders get started with quantum experiments.

SEE: What is the quantum internet? Everything you need to know about the weird future of quantum networks

In other words, the quantum ecosystem is buzzing with activity, and is growing fast. "Companies in the industries where quantum will have the greatest potential for complete disruption should get involved in quantum right now," says Ostojic.

And the exponential compute power of quantum technologies, according to the analyst, will be a game-changer in many fields. Qubits, with their unprecedented ability to solve optimisation problems, will benefit any organisation with a supply chain and distribution route, while shaking up the finance industry by maximising gains from portfolios. Quantum-infused artificial intelligence also holds huge promise, with models expected to benefit from better training on bigger datasets.

One example: by simulating molecular interactions that are too complex for classical computers to handle, qubits will let biotech companies fast-track the discovery of new drugs and materials. Microsoft, for example, has already demonstrated how quantum computers can help manufacture fertilizers with better yields. This could have huge implications for the agricultural sector, as it faces the colossal task of sustainably feeding the growing global population in years to come.

Chemistry, oil and gas, transportation, logistics, banking and cybersecurity are often cited as sectors that quantum technology could significantly transform. "In principle, quantum will be relevant for all CIOs as it will accelerate solutions to a large range of problems," says Ostojic. "Those companies need to become owners of quantum capability."

Chemistry, oil and gas, transportation, logistics, banking or cybersecurity are among the industries that are often pointed to as examples of the fields that quantum technology could transform.

There is a caveat. No CIO should expect to achieve too much short-term value from quantum computing in its current form. However fast-growing the quantum industry is, the field remains defined by the stubborn instability of qubits, which still significantly limits the capability of quantum computers.

"Right now, there is no problem that a quantum computer can solve faster than a classical computer, which is of value to a CIO," insists Heike Riel, head of science and technology at IBM Research Quantum Europe. "But you have to be very careful, because the technology is evolving fast. Suddenly, there might be enough qubits to solve a problem that is of high value to a business with a quantum computer."

And when that day comes, there will be a divide between the companies that prepared for quantum compute power, and those that did not. This is what's at stake for business leaders who are already playing around with quantum, explains Riel. Although no CIO expects quantum to deliver value for the next five to ten years, the most forward-thinking businesses are already anticipating the wave of innovation that the technology will bring about eventually -- so that when it does, they will be the first to benefit from it.

This means planning staffing, skills and projects, and building an understanding of how quantum computing can help solve actual business problems. "This is where a lot of work is going on in different industries, to figure out what the true problems are, which can be solved with a quantum computer and not a classical computer, and which would make a big difference in terms of value," says Riel.

Riel points to the example of quantum simulation for battery development, which companies like car manufacturer Daimler are investigating in partnership with IBM. To increase the capacity and speed-of-charging of batteries for electric vehicles, Daimler's researchers are working on next-generation lithium-sulfur batteries, which require the alignment of various compounds in the most stable configuration possible. To find the best placement of molecules, all the possible interactions between the particles that make up the compound's molecules must be simulated.

This task can be carried out by current supercomputers for simple molecules, but a large-scale quantum solution could one day break new ground in developing the more complex compounds that are required for better batteries.

"Of course, right now the molecules we are simulating with quantum are small in size because of the limited size of the quantum computer," says Riel. "But when we scale the next generation of quantum computers, then we can solve the problem despite the complexity of the molecules."

SEE: 10 tech predictions that could mean huge changes ahead

Similar thinking led oil and gas giant ExxonMobilto join the network of companies that are currently using IBM's cloud-based quantum processors. ExxonMobil started collaborating with IBM in 2019, with the objective of one day using quantum to design new chemicals for low energy processing and carbon capture.

The company's director of corporate strategic research Amy Herhold explains that for the past year, ExxonMobil's scientists have been tapping IBM's quantum capabilities to simulate macroscopic material properties such as heat capacity. The team has focused so far on the smallest of molecules, hydrogen gas, and is now working on ways to scale the method up to larger molecules as the hardware evolves.

A number of milestones still need to be achieved before quantum computing translates into an observable business impact, according to Herhold. Companies will need to have access to much larger quantum computers with low error rates, as well as to appropriate quantum algorithms that address key problems.

"While today's quantum computers cannot solve business-relevant problems -- they are too small and the qubits are too noisy -- the field is rapidly advancing," Herhold tells ZDNet. "We know that research and development is critical on both the hardware and the algorithm front, and given how different this is from classical computing, we knew it would take time to build up our internal capabilities. This is why we decided to get going."

Herhold anticipates that quantum hardware will grow at a fast pace in the next five years. The message is clear: when it does, ExxonMobil's research team will be ready.

One industry that has shown an eager interest in quantum technology is the financial sector. From JP Morgan Chase's partnerships with IBM and Honeywell, to BBVA's use of Zapata's services, banks are actively exploring the potential of qubits, and with good reason. Quantum computers, by accounting for exponentially high numbers of factors and variables, could generate much better predictions of financial risk and uncertainty, and boost the efficiency of key operations such as investment portfolio optimisation or options pricing.

Similar to other fields, most of the research is dedicated to exploring proof-of-concepts for the financial industry. In fact, when solving smaller problems, scientists still run quantum algorithms alongside classical computers to validate the results.

"The classical simulator has an exact answer, so you can check if you're getting this exact answer with the quantum computer," explains Tony Uttley, president of Honeywell Quantum Solutions, as he describes the process of quantum options pricing in finance.

"And you better be, because as soon as we cross that boundary, where we won't be able to classically simulate anymore, you better be convinced that your quantum computer is giving you the right answer. Because that's what you'll be taking into your business processes."

Companies that are currently working on quantum solutions are focusing on what Uttley calls the "path to value creation". In other words, they are using quantum capabilities as they stand to run small-scale problems, building trust in the technology as they do so, while they wait for capabilities to grow and enable bigger problems to be solved.

In many fields, most of the research is dedicated to exploring proof-of-concepts for quantum computing in industry.

Tempting as it might be for CIOs to hope for short-term value from quantum services, it's much more realistic to look at longer timescales, maintains Uttley. "Imagine you have a hammer, and somebody tells you they want to build a university campus with it," he says. "Well, looking at your hammer, you should ask yourself how long it's going to take to build that."

Quantum computing holds the promise that the hammer might, in the next few years, evolve into a drill and then a tower crane. The challenge, for CIOs, is to plan now for the time that the tools at their disposal get the dramatic boost that's expected by scientists and industry players alike.

It is hard to tell exactly when that boost will come. IBM's roadmap announces that the company will reach 1,000 qubits in 2023, which could mark the start of early value creation in pharmaceuticals and chemicals, thanks to the simulation of small molecules. But although the exact timeline is uncertain, Uttley is adamant that it's never too early to get involved.

"Companies that are forward-leaning already have teams focused on this and preparing their organisations to take advantage of it once we cross the threshold to value creation," he says. "So what I tend to say is: engage now. The capacity is scarce, and if you're not already at the front of the line, it may be quite a while before you get in."

Creating business value is a priority for every CIO. At the same time, the barrier to entry for quantum computing is lowering every time a new startup emerges to simplify the software infrastructure and assist non-experts in kickstarting their use of the technology. So there's no time to lose in embracing the technology. Securing a first-class spot in the quantum revolution, when it comes, is likely to be worth it.

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Quantum computers are coming. Get ready for them to change everything - ZDNet

An ion chamber houses the qubit brains of Honeywell's quantum computers.

Honeywell's second-generation quantum computer, the H1, is in business. The powerful computer performs calculations by carefully manipulating 10 ytterbium atoms housed in a thumbnail-size package called an ion trap.

Honeywell, a surprise new entrant intoquantum computers, is one of a several companies hoping to revolutionize computing. Tech giants IBM, Google, Intel and Microsoft also have serious quantum computing programs, and startups such as Rigetti Computing and IonQ are in the fray with their own machines.

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A host of other startups like QC Ware, Zapata, Cambridge Quantum Computing, Rahko, and Xanadu are working to make quantum computers easier to use for those that don't have a bunch of Ph.D.s on staff to wrestle with the weird laws that govern the ultra-small scale of the quantum physics realm.

The continued progress is essential if quantum computers, still in their infancy, are to meet their potential. Years of investments will be required to carry today's early designs to a more practical, profitable phase.

The heart of a quantum computer is called a qubit, a data storage and processing element that unlike conventional computer bits can store an overlapping combination of zero and one through one quantum computing phenomenon called superposition. Honeywell's H1 machine today has 10 qubits, charged ytterbium atoms arranged in a line.

Those qubits can be tickled electromagnetically to change the data they're storing, shift positions and reveal their state to the outside world when a calculation is finished. Qubits can be connected through a phenomenon called entanglement that exponentially increases the number of states a quantum computer can evaluate.

That's why quantum computers promise to be able to crack computing problems that conventional machines can't. One big expected use is molecular modeling to improve chemical processes like fertilizer manufacturing. Quantum computers are also expected to take on other materials science challenges, such as creating efficient solar panels and better batteries. Other uses focus on optimization tasks like overseeing the financial investments and routing a fleet of delivery trucks.

Honeywell pioneered this trapped-ion design with the H0 quantum computer prototype. "Because of demand from partners and customers, we transformed H0 into a commercial system," said Tony Uttley, president of Honeywell Quantum Solutions. Customers who've used H0 include Los Alamos National Laboratory and the University of Texas at Austin, oil-and-gas giant BP and financial services company JPMorgan Chase.

The H0 set a record for an IBM-designed quantum computing speed test called quantum volume, a measure that combines the number of qubits and how much useful work they can accomplish. In August, IBM reached a quantum volume of 64, part of a plan to double performance annually. But in October, Honeywell announced its H0 reached a quantum volume of 128. That's part of its plan to increase performance at least by a factor of 10 annually, reaching 640,000 by 2025.

Honeywell also detailed H2, H3, H4 and H5 quantum computer design plans extending through 2030. They'll replace today's straight-line ion trap with increasingly complicated arrangements, including a looped "racetrack" in the H2 already in testing today and increasingly large crisscrossing lattices for the H3, H4 and H5.

One big motivation for the new designs is cramming in more qubits. That'll be important to move beyond today's kicking-the-tires calculations into more serious work. It'll be essential for one of the big challenges for future quantum computers, error correction, which designers hope will let easily perturbed qubits perform calculations for longer before being derailed.

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Honeywell fires up the H1, its second-generation quantum computer - CNET

Just this week the Senate had a hearing, ostensibly about speech on internet platforms. But what the hearing was really about was our continuing inability to figure out what to do with a technological infrastructure that gives every single person on the planet the ability to broadcast their thoughts, whether illuminating or poisonous. We know that solutions are elusive, especially in the context of our current electoral issues. But this is actually one of the less vexing conundrums that technology has dropped on our lap. What are we going to do about Crispr? How are we going to handle artificial intelligence, before it handles us? A not-encouraging sign of our ability to deal with change: While we werent looking, smart phones have made us cyborgs.

Heres another example of a change that might later look more significant than our current focus: Late last year, Google announced it had achieved Quantum Supremacy, This means that it solved a problem with its experimental quantum computer that couldnt be solved with a conventional one, or even a supercomputer.

Its a forgone conclusion that quantum computing is going to happen. When it does, what we thought was a speed limit will evaporate. Nobodynobody!has an idea of what can come from this. I bet it might even be bigger than whatever Donald Trump will do in a second (or third or fourth) term, or the civil disorder that might erupt if he isnt returned to the Peoples House.

A few days after the election, on that same West Coast trip, I had a random street encounter with one of the most important leaders in technology. We spoke informally for maybe 15 or 20 minutes about what had happened. He seemed shattered by the outcome, but no more than pretty much everyone I knew. He told me that he asked himself, should I have done more? Like all of the top people in the industry, he has since had to make his accommodations with the Trump administration. But as with all his peers, he has not relented on his drive to create new technology that will continue the remarkable and worrisome transformation of humanity.

The kind of people who work for him will keep doing what they do. Maybe they will no longer want to work for a company thats overly concerned about winning the favoror avoiding the disfavorof a president who they think is racist, a president who despises immigrants (wife and in-laws excepted), a president who encourages dictators and casts doubts on voting. If things get bad in this country, a lot of those engineers and scientists will leave, and a lot of other countries will welcome them. The adventure will continue. Even if the United States as we know it does not last another generation, scientists will continue advancing artificial intelligence, brain-machine interfaces, and, of course, quantum computing. And thats what our time will be known for.

Yes, a thousand years from now, historians will study the Donald Trump phenomenon and what it meant for our gutsy little experiment in democracy, as well as for the world at large. I am still confident, however, that historians will find more importance in learning about the moments in our lifetimes when science changed everything.

What I am not confident about is predicting how those future historians will do their work, and to what extent people of our time would regard those historians as human beings, or some exotic quantum Crispr-ed cyborgs. Thats something that Donald Trump will have no hand in. And why its so important, even as politics intrude on our everyday existence, to do the work of chronicling this great and fearsome adventure.

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Quantum Computing Is Bigger Than Donald Trump - WIRED

Archer CEO Dr Mohammad Choucair and quantum technology manager Dr Martin Fuechsle

Quantum computing will revolutionise the world; its potential is so immeasurable that the greatest minds in Redmond, Armonk, and Silicon Valley are spending big on quantum development. But a company by the name of Archer Materials wants to put Sydney, Australia, on the map alongside, if not ahead, of these tech giants.

Universal quantum computers leverage the quantum mechanical phenomena of superposition and entanglement to create states that scale exponentially with the number of quantum bits (qubits).

Here's an explanation: What is quantum computing? Understanding the how, why and when of quantum computers

"Quantum computing represents the next generation of powerful computing, you don't really have to know how your phone works on the inside, you just want it to do things that you couldn't do before," Archer CEO Dr Mohammad Choucair told ZDNet.

"And with quantum computing, you can do things that you couldn't necessarily do before."

There is currently a very small set number of tasks that a quantum computer can do, but Choucair is hopeful that in the future this will grow to be a little bit more consumer-based and business-faced.

Right now, however, quantum computing, for all intents and purposes, is at a very early stage. It's not going to completely displace a classical computer, but it will give the capacity to do more with what we currently have. Choucair believes this will positively impact a range of sectors that are reliant on an increasing amount of computational power.

"This comes to light when you start to want to optimise very large portfolios, or perform a whole bunch of data crunching, AI and all sorts of buzzwords -- but ultimately, you're looking for more computational power. And you can genuinely get speed-ups in computational power based on certain algorithms for certain problems that are currently being identified," he explained.

"The problems that quantum computers can solve are currently being identified and the end users are being engaged."

Archer describes itself as a materials technology company. Its proposition is simple at heart: "Materials are the tangible physical basis of all technology. We're developing and integrating materials to address complex global challenges in quantum technology, human health, and reliable energy".

There are many components to quantum computing, but Archer is building a qubit processor. 12CQ is touted by the company as a "world-first technology that Archer aims to build for quantum computing operation at room-temperature and integration onboard modern electronic devices".

"We're not building the entire computer, we're building the chipset, the processer at the core of it," Choucair told ZDNet. "That really forms the brain of a quantum computer.

"The difference with us is that we really are looking at on-board use, rather than the heavy infrastructure that's required to house the existing quantum computing architectures.

"This is not all airy-fairy and it is not all of blue sky; it's real, there's proven potential, we've published the workwe have the data, we have the science behind us -- it took seven years of immense, immersive R&D."

Archer is building the chip inside a AU$180 million prototype foundry out of the University of Sydney. The funding was provided by the university as well as government.

"Everyone's playing their role to get this to market," he said.

Choucair is convinced that the potential when Archer "gets this right" will be phenomenal.

"Once you get a minimal viable product, and you can demonstrate the technology can indeed work at room temperature and be integrated into modern-day electronics. I think that's, that's quite disruptive. And it's quite exciting," he said.

Magnified region observing the round qubit clusters which are billionths of a meter in size in the centre of qubit control device components (appearing as parallel lines).

Choucair found himself at Archer in 2017 after the company acquired a startup he founded. Straight away, he and the board got started on the strategy it's currently executing on.

"There is very, very small margin for error from the start, in the middle, at the end -- you need to know what you're getting yourself into, what you're doingthis is why I think we've been able to be so successful moving forward, we've been so rapid in our development, because we know exactly what needs to get done," Choucair said.

"The chip is a world firstscience can fail at any stage, everybody knows that, but more often than not, it may or may not -- how uncertain do you want something to be? So for us, the more and more we develop our chip, the higher chances of success become."

Read more about Archer's commercial strategy here: Archer looks to commercialisation future with graphene-based biosensor tech

Choucair said materials technology itself was able to reduce a lot of the commercial barriers to entry for Archer, which meant the company could take the work out of the university much sooner.

"The material technology allowed us to do things without the need for heavy cooling infrastructure, which costs millions and millions of dollars and had to be housed in buildings that cost millions and millions of dollars,' he explained. "Massive barrier reduced, material could be made simply from common laboratory agents, which means you didn't have to build a billion-dollar facility to control atoms and do all these crazy scientific things at the atomic level.

"And so, really, you end up with the materials technology that was simple to handle, easy to make, and worked at room temperature, and you're like, wow, okay, so now the job for us is to actually build the chip and miniaturise this stuff, which is challenging in itself."

The CEO of the unexplainable has an impressive resum. He landed at Archer with a strong technical background in nanotechnology, served a two-year mandate on the World Economic Forum Global Council for Advanced Materials, is a fellow of both The Royal Society of New South Wales and The Royal Australian Chemical Institute, and was an academic and research fellow at the University of Sydney's School of Chemistry.

Choucair also has in his armoury Dr Martin Fuechsle, who is recognised for developing the world's smallest transistor, a "single-atom transistor".

"Fuechsle is among the few highly talented physicists in the world capable of building quantum devices that push the boundaries of current information processing technology," Choucair said in January 2019, announcing Fuechsle's appointment. "His skills, experience, and exceptional track record strongly align to Archer's requirements for developing our key vertical of quantum technology."

SEE:Guide to Becoming a Digital Transformation Champion(TechRepublic Premium)

Archer is publicly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, but Choucair would reject any claims of it being a crazy proposition.

"20 years ago, a company that was maybe offering something as abstract as an online financial payment system would have been insane too, but if you have a look at the top 10 companies on the Nasdaqa lot of their core business is embedded in the development of computational architecture, computational hardware," he said.

"We're a very small company, I'm not comparing myself to a Nasdaq-listed company. I'm just saying, the core businessI think it's a unique offering and differentiates us on a stock exchange."

He said quantum technology is something that people are starting to value and see as having potential and scale of opportunity.

Unlike many of the other quantum players in Australia and abroad, Archer is not a result of a spin-off from a university, Choucair claimed.

"The one thing about Archer is that we're not a university spin out -- I think that's what sets us apart, not just in Australia, but globally," he said. "A lot of the time, the quantum is at a university, this is where you go to learn about quantum computing, so it's only natural that it does come out of a university."

Historically, Australia has a reputation of being bad at commercialising research and development. But our curriculum vitae speaks for itself: Spray-on skin, the black box flight recorder, polymer bank notes, and the Cochlear implant, to name a few.

According to Choucair, quantum is next.

"We really are leading the world; we well and truly punch above our weight when it comes to the work that's been done, we lead the world," he said.

"And that quantum technology is across quantum computing and photonics, and sensing -- it's not just quantum computing. We do have a lot of great scientists and those who are developing the technology."

But as highlighted in May by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in its quantum technologies roadmap, there are a lot of gaps that need to be filled over the long term.

"We just have to go out there and get the job done," Choucair said.

"In Australia we have resource constraints, just like anywhere else in the world. And I think there's always a lot more that can be donewe're not doing deep tech as a luxury in this country. From the very top down, there is an understanding, I believe, from our government and from key institutes in the nation that this is what will help us drive forward as a nation."

Archer isn't the only group focused on the promise of quantum tech down under, but Choucair said there's no animosity within the Aussie ecosystem.

Read about UNSW's efforts: Australia's ambitious plan to win the quantum race

There's also a partnership between two universities: UNSW and Sydney Uni quantum partnership already bearing fruit

"I think we all understand that there's a greater mission at stake here. And we all want, I can't speak on everyone's behalf, but at Archer we definitely have vision of making quantum computing widespread -- adopted by consumers and businesses, that's something that we really want to do," he said.

"We have fantastic support here in Australia, there's no doubt about it."

A lot of the work in the quantum space is around education, as Choucair said, it's not something that just comes out of abstractness and then just exists.

"You have to remember this stuff's all been built off 20, 30, 40 years of research and development, quantum mechanics, engineering, science, and tech -- hundreds and thousands of brilliant minds over the course of two-three generations," the CEO explained.

While the technology is here, and people are building algorithms that only run on quantum computers, there is still another 20-or-so years of development to follow.

"This field is not a fast follower field, you don't just get up in the morning and put your slippers on and say you're going to build a quantum computer," he added.

Archer is also part of the IBM Q Network, which is a global network of startups, Fortune 500 companies, and academic research institutes that have access to IBM's experts, developer tools, and cloud-based quantum systems through IBM Q Cloud.

Archer joined the network in May as the first Australian company that's developing a qubit processor.

Choucair said the work cannot be done without partnerships and collaboration alongside the best in the world.

"Yes, there is a race to build quantum computers, but I think more broadly than a race, to just enable the widespread adoption of the technology. And that's not easy. And that takes a concerted effort," he said. "And at this early stage of development, there is a lot of overlap and collaboration.

"There's a bit of a subculture that Australia can't do it -- yeah, we can.

"There's no excuses, right? We're doing it, we're building it, we're getting there. We're working with the very best in the world."

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Australia's Archer and its plan for quantum world domination - ZDNet

According toCanadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), the total revenues generated by telecom industry in Canada was USD 38.79 billion in 2017.

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To provide better understanding of internal and external marketing factors, the multi-dimensional analytical tools such as SWOT and PESTEL analysis have been implemented in the global Quantum Computing market report. Moreover, the report consists of market segmentation, CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate), BPS analysis, Y-o-Y growth (%), Porters five force model, absolute $ opportunity and anticipated cost structure of the market.

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Quantum Computing Market Analysis By Market Size, Share, Revenue Growth, Development And Demand Forecast To 2028 - The Think Curiouser

Some hope that quantum mechanics can explain human consciousness.

Maybe we are all quantum computers but dont know it? Maybe quantum computers could think like people?

There is an odd relationship between the human mind and quantum mechanics, the science of entities like electrons that are too small to be governed by ordinary physics.

Some aspects of consciousness appear to be mediated by such elementary particles. Science writer Philip Ball explains,

Nobody understands what consciousness is or how it works. Nobody understands quantum mechanics either. Could that be more than coincidence?

Quantum mechanics is the best theory we have for describing the world at the nuts-and-bolts level of atoms and subatomic particles. Perhaps the most renowned of its mysteries is the fact that the outcome of a quantum experiment can change depending on whether or not we choose to measure some property of the particles involved

To this day, physicists do not agree on the best way to interpret these quantum experiments, and to some extent what you make of them is (at the moment) up to you. But one way or another, it is hard to avoid the implication that consciousness and quantum mechanics are somehow linked.

This might, of course, be at least one part of the reason that consciousness remains a mystery.

But now, is a quantum computer smarter than the conventional machine that just computes numbers?

In Gaming AI, tech philosopher George Gilder notes that the resourceful AI geniuses believe that they can effect an astronomical speedup by changing the ordinary 1 or 0 bit to the quantum bit, or qubit:

The qubit is one of the most enigmatic tangles of matter and ghost in the entire armament of physics. Like a binary digit, it can register 0 or 1; what makes it quantum is that it can also register a nonbinary superposition of 0 and 1.

But before we get carried away by the possibilities, Gilder goes on to say that theres a hitch. An endless superposition works fine for Schrodingers cat. But, to be useful in the real world, the quantum computer must settle on either 0 or 1. If the needed number is your paycheck, to be cashed, it must be a number, not an infinite debate.

In any event, quantum computers come with real world problems that conventional computers dont have:

the chip can no longer function as a determinist logical device. For example, today the key problem in microchips is to avoid spontaneous quantum tunneling, where electrons can find themselves on the other side of a barrier that by the laws of classical physics would have been insurmountable and impenetrable. In digital memory chips or processors, spontaneous tunneling can mean leakage and loss.

Quantum computing has advantages and disadvantages. In any event, consciousness is still a mystery and its not clear at this point how quantum computers help us understand much. But stay tuned!

Note: You can download Gaming AI for free here.

You may also wish to look at:

Quantum supremacy isnt the Big Fix. If human thought is Turings halting oracle, as seems likely, then even quantum computing will not allow us to replicate human intelligence (Eric Holloway)

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Will Quantum Mechanics Produce the True Thinking Computer? - Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence

The research report focuses on target groups of customers to help players to effectively market their products and achieve strong sales in the global Quantum Computing Technologies Market. It segregates useful and relevant market information as per the business needs of players. Readers are provided with validated and revalidated market forecast figures such as CAGR, Quantum Computing Technologies market revenue, production, consumption, and market share. Our accurate market data equips players to plan powerful strategies ahead of time. The Quantum Computing Technologies report offers deep geographical analysis where key regional and country level markets are brought to light. The vendor landscape is also analysed in depth to reveal current and future market challenges and Quantum Computing Technologies business tactics adopted by leading companies to tackle them.

Market dynamics including drivers, restraints, Quantum Computing Technologies market challenges, opportunities, influence factors, and trends are especially focused upon to give a clear understanding of the global Quantum Computing Technologies market. The research study includes segmental analysis where important type, application, and regional segments are studied in quite some detail. It also includes Quantum Computing Technologies market channel, distributor, and customer analysis, manufacturing cost analysis, company profiles, market analysis by application, production, revenue, and price trend analysis by type, production and consumption analysis by region, and various other market studies. Our researchers have used top-of-the-line primary and secondary research techniques to prepare the Quantum Computing Technologies report.

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Our impartial and unbiased approach toward Quantum Computing Technologies market research is one of the major benefits offered with this research study. While internal analysis holds great importance in market research, secondary research helps guide changes during the preparation of a Quantum Computing Technologies research report. We dont simply take the word of third parties, we always look for justification and validation before using their data or information in our research study. We have attempted to give a holistic view of the global Quantum Computing Technologies market and benchmark almost all important players of the industry, not just the prominent ones. As we focus on the realities of the global Quantum Computing Technologies market, be rest assured that you are on the right path to receiving the right information and accurate data.

Segment by Type, the S-Metolachlor market is segmented intoAnalysis GradePesticides Grade

Segment by Application, the S-Metolachlor market is segmented intoVegetables WeedingMelon Weeding

Regional and Country-level AnalysisThe S-Metolachlor market is analysed and market size information is provided by regions (countries).The key regions covered in the S-Metolachlor market report are North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. It also covers key regions (countries), viz, U.S., Canada, Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Mexico, Brazil, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, etc.The report includes country-wise and region-wise market size for the period 2015-2026. It also includes market size and forecast by Type, and by Application segment in terms of sales and revenue for the period 2015-2026.

Competitive Landscape

Key players of the global Quantum Computing Technologies market are profiled on the basis of various factors, which include recent developments, business strategies, financial strength, weaknesses, and main business. The Quantum Computing Technologies report offers a special assessment of top strategic moves of leading players such as merger and acquisition, collaboration, new product launch, and partnership.

Competitive Landscape and S-Metolachlor Market Share AnalysisS-Metolachlor market competitive landscape provides details and data information by players. The report offers comprehensive analysis and accurate statistics on revenue by the player for the period 2015-2020. It also offers detailed analysis supported by reliable statistics on revenue (global and regional level) by players for the period 2015-2020. Details included are company description, major business, company total revenue and the sales, revenue generated in S-Metolachlor business, the date to enter into the S-Metolachlor market, S-Metolachlor product introduction, recent developments, etc.The major vendors covered:SyngentaUPL LimitedJiangsu ChangqingCNADCZhongshan Chemical

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Our objective data will help you to make informed decisions related to your business. The powerful insights provided in the Quantum Computing Technologies report will lead to better decision-making and deliverance of actionable ideas. The information that this research study offers will assist your business to the position in the best manner possible for driving Quantum Computing Technologies market growth and gain sound understanding about issues affecting the industry and the competitive landscape. Players can actually improve their reputation and standing in the global Quantum Computing Technologies market as they develop improved business strategies and gain more confidence with the help of the research study.

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Table of Contents

Market Overview: In this section, the authors of the report provide an overview of products offered in the global Quantum Computing Technologies market, market scope, consumption comparison by application, production growth rate comparison by type, highlights of geographical analysis in Quantum Computing Technologies market, and a glimpse of market sizing forecast.

Manufacturing Cost Analysis: It includes manufacturing cost structure analysis, key raw material analysis, Quantum Computing Technologies industrial chain analysis, and manufacturing process analysis.

Company Profiling: Here, the analysts have profiled leading players of the global Quantum Computing Technologies market on the basis of different factors such as markets served, market share, gross margin, price, production, and revenue.

Analysis by Application: The Quantum Computing Technologies report sheds light on the consumption growth rate and consumption market share of all of the applications studied.

Quantum Computing Technologies Consumption by Region: Consumption of all regional markets studied in the Quantum Computing Technologies report is analysed here. The review period considered is 2014-2019.

Quantum Computing Technologies Production by Region: It includes gross margin, production, price, production growth rate, and revenue of all regional markets between 2014 and 2019.

Competition by Manufacturer: It includes production share, revenue share, and average price by manufacturers. Quantum Computing Technologies market analysts have also discussed the products, areas served, and production sites of manufacturers and current as well as future competitive situations and trends.

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Quantum Computing Technologies Market : Information, Figures and Analytical Insights 2020-2025 - Eurowire

Recently, [Jabrils] set out to accomplish a difficult task: porting a quantum-inspired algorithm to run on a (simulated) quantum computer. Algorithms are often inspired by all sorts of natural phenomena. For example, asolution to the traveling salesman problem models ants and their pheromone trails. Another famous example is neural nets, which are inspired by the neurons in your brain. However, attempting to run a machine learning algorithm on your neurons, even with the assistance of pen and paper would be a nearly impossible exercise.

The quantum-inspired algorithm in question is known as the wavefunction collapse function. In a nutshell, you have a cube of voxels, a graph of nodes, or simply a grid of tiles as well as a list of detailed rules to determine the state of a node or tile. At the start of the algorithm, each node or point is considered in a state of superposition, which means it is considered to be in every possible state. Looking at the list of rules, the algorithm then begins to collapse the states. Unlike a quantum computer, states of superposition is not an intrinsic part of a classic computer, so this solving must be done iteratively. In order to reduce possible conflicts and contradictions later down the line, the nodes with the least entropy (the smallest number of possible states) are solved first. At first, random states are assigned, with the changes propagating through the system. This process is continued until the waveform is ultimately collapsed to a stable state or a contradiction is reached.

Whats interesting is that the ruleset doesnt need to be coded, it can be inferred from an example. A classic use case of this algorithm is 2D pixel-art level design. By providing a small sample level, the algorithm churns and produces similar but wholly unique output. This makes it easy to provide thousands of unique and beautiful levels from an easy source image, however it comes at a price. Even a small level can take hours to fully collapse. In theory, a quantum computer should be able to do this much faster, since after all, it was the inspiration for this algorithm in the first place.

[Jabrils] spent weeks trying to get things running but ultimately didnt succeed. However, his efforts give us a peek into the world of quantum computing and this amazing algorithm. We look forward to hearing more about this project from [Jabrils] who is continuing to work on it in his spare time. Maybe give it a shot yourself by learning the basics of quantum computing for yourself.

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Quantum Inspired Algorithm Going Back To The Source - Hackaday

Introduction and Scope: Global Quantum Software MarketBased on highly decisive data unravelling approach braced by highly professional researchers and analysts in our teams, the Global Quantum Software Market is expected to nail a bullish growth through the growth span, 2020-26.

The report is poised to include definitive details of the market forces, growth catalysts that collectively influence lucrative growth returns. The market with his current growth prognosis as well as an eventful historical success rate is likely to accrue high end investment returns, while also maintaining a decent CAGR percentage through the growth years considered in the report.

which market players and aspiring new entrants may witness seamless entry.Origin Quantum Computing TechnologyD WaveIBMMicrosoftIntelGoogleIon Q

The report in its modest attempt to unfurl notable market developments successfully includes details on revenue predictions, sales performance profit margin as well as market specific segmentation and vendor profiles who continue to hold tangible lead despite unprecedented challenges and catastrophes.

Identifying Growth Influencers and Potential ThreatsThis well researched report presentation delving into global Quantum Software market highlights some of themost dominant trends and other market specific influencers that entail positive and negative implications on growth possibilities.

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The report minutely assesses key developments trends besides also identifying growth deterrents and constraints that shrink growth possibilities. Additional market specific developments highlighting COVID-19 outbreak and its subsequent implications on holistic growth trajectory of the Quantum Software market have been thoroughly assessed to gauge into current as well as future implications of the pandemic, affecting businesses and growth trends significantly.

The market is roughly segregated into: Segmentation by TypeSystem SoftwareApplication Software

Segmentation by ApplicationBig Data AnalysisBiochemical ManufacturingMachine Learning

Geographical Landscape global Quantum Software market: Details for Consideration For superlative reader awareness and informed business decisions, this report section actively bifurcates the overall market into key geographical pockets comprising North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Southeast Asia, Middle East and Africa, South America.

In its subsequent sections, the report also includes vital details about the growth performance, revenue generation trends as well as vendor activities across specific geographical hubs and futuristic growth possibilities in the areas.

Crucial information on revenue generation trends and growth rate projections have also been well included in this report.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis The overall status of the Quantum Software market with pandemic outrage has been mindfully assessed and accurate predictions have also been made to aid futuristic growth projections

Changing parameters across supply-chain dynamics have been addressed in the report.

Both long term and short-term market growth implications accrued by affected business developments with pandemic looming large.

Primary Purpose of the Report The report follows a top down investigative approach to unravel forecast projections The report presents a thorough investigative study of the Quantum Software market to assist and guide profitable business discretion This high-end research report representation on the Quantum Software market is fundamentally aimed to unravel developments such as supply and demand scenario Further, the report scouts further analysis to identify and group the eventful developments, sectioning them in fragments and categories to direct profit ventures in the Quantum Software market, also aiding market participants business discretion

Relevant details on prevalent market competition and rising intensity with inclusion of new market players also find ample mention in the report to evoke wise comprehension and appropriate growth related business strategies, favoring strong competitive edge. Details on technological innovation, and inputs developments, commercial agreements have all been touched upon in this illustrative research report on the Quantum Software market.

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Subsequently in the report, readers are also well enlightened about the current scenario in the competitive landscape highlighting key vendors and their steady growth journey through the forecast span. Details pertaining to company performance, portfolio developments as well as profit returns have been discussed alongside SWOT analysis.

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Global Quantum Software Market 2026 The leading Industry Players : Origin Quantum Computing Technology, D Wave, IBM, Microsoft, Intel etc. - Aerospace...

New MIT Lincoln Laboratory's quantum chip with integrated photonics

Most experts agree that quantum computing is still in an experimental era. The current state of quantum technology has been compared to the same stage that classical computing was in during the late 1930s.

Quantum computing uses various computation technologies, such as superconducting, trapped ion, photonics, silicon-based, and others.It will likely be a decade or more before a useful fault-tolerant quantum machine is possible. However, a team of researchers at MIT Lincoln Laboratory has developed a vital step to advance the evolution of trapped-ion quantum computers and quantum sensors.

Most everyone knows that classical computers perform calculations using bits (binary digits) to represent either a one or zero.In quantum computers, a qubit (quantum bit) is the fundamental unit of information. Like classical bits, it can represent a one or zero. Still, a qubit can also be a superposition of both values when in a quantum state.

Superconducting qubits, used by IBM and several others, are the most commonly used technology.Even so, trapped-ion qubits are the most mature qubit technology. It dates back to the 1990s and its first use in atomic clocks. Honeywell and IonQ are the most prominent commercial users of trapped ion qubits.

Trapped-Ion quantum computers

Depiction of external lasers and optical equipment in a quantum computer ... [+]

Honeywell and IonQ both create trapped-ion qubits using an isotope of rare-earth metal called ytterbium.In its chip using integrated photonics, MIT used an alkaline metal called strontium.The process to create ions is essentially the same. Precision lasers remove an outer electron from an atom to form a positively charged ion.Then, lasers are used like tweezers to move ions into position. Once in position, oscillating voltage fields hold the ions in place. One main advantage of ions lies in the fact that it is natural instead of fabricated. All trapped-ion qubits are identical.A trapped-ion qubit created on earth would be the perfect twin of one created on another planet.

Dr. Robert Niffenegger, a member of the Trapped Ion and Photonics Group at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, led the experiments and is first author on the Nature paper.He explained why strontium was used for the MIT chip instead of ytterbium, the ion of choice for Honeywell and IonQ."The photonics developed for the ion trap are the first to be compatible with violet and blue wavelengths," he said. "Traditional photonics materials have very high loss in the blue, violet and UV.Strontium ions were used instead of ytterbium because strontium ions do not need UV light for optical control."

This figure shows lasers in Honeywell's powerful Model zero trapped-ion quantum computer. Parallel ... [+] operating zones are a key differentiating feature of its advanced QCCD trapped-ion system

All the manipulation of ions takes place inside a vacuum chamber containing a trapped-ion quantum processor chip.The chamber protects the ions from the environment and prevents collisions with air molecules. In addition to creating ions and moving them into position, lasers perform necessary quantum operations on each qubit.Because lasers and optical components are large, it is by necessity located outside the vacuum chamber.Mirrors and other optical equipment steer and focus external laser beams through the vacuum chamber windows and onto the ions.

The largest number of trapped-ion qubits being used in a quantum computer today is 32.For quantum computers to be truly useful, millions of qubits are needed.Of course, that means many thousands of lasers will also be required to control and measure the millions of ion qubits. The problem becomes even larger when two types of ions are used, such as ytterbium and barium in Honeywell's machine. The current method of controlling lasers makes it challenging to build trapped-ion quantum computers beyond a few hundred qubits.

Fiber optics couple laser light directly into the MIT ion-trap chip. When in use, the chip is cooled ... [+] to cryogenic temperatures in a vacuum chamber, and waveguides on the chip deliver the light to an ion trapped right above the chip's surface for performing quantum computation.

Rather than resorting to optics and bouncing lasers off mirrors to aim beams into the vacuum chamber, MIT researchers have developed another method.They have figured out how to use optical fibers and photonics to carry laser pulses directly into the chamber and focus them on individual ions on the chip.

A trapped-ion strontium quantum computer needs lasers of six different frequencies. Each frequency corresponds to a different color that ranges from near-ultraviolet to near-infrared.Each color performs a different operation on an ion qubit. The MIT press release describes the new development this way, "Lincoln Laboratory researchers have developed a compact way to deliver laser light to trapped ions. In the Nature paper, the researchers describe a fiber-optic block that plugs into the ion-trap chip, coupling light to optical waveguides fabricated in the chip itself. Through these waveguides, multiple wavelengths [colors] of light can be routed through the chip and released to hit the ions above it."

Light is coupled to the MIT integrated photonic trap chip via optical fibers which enter the ... [+] cryogenic vacuum chamber through a fiber feed-

In other words, rather than using external mirrors to shine lasers into the vacuum chamber, MIT researchers used multiple optical fibers and photonic waveguides instead.A block equipped with four optic fibers delivering a range of colors was mounted on the quantum chip's underside. According to Niffenegger, "Getting the fiber block array aligned to the waveguides on the chip and applying the epoxy felt like performing surgery. It was a very delicate process. We had about half a micron of tolerance, and it needed to survive cool down to4 Kelvin."

I asked Dr. Niffenegger his thoughts about the long-term implications of his team's development.His reply was interesting.

"I think many people in the quantum computing field think that the board is set and all of the leading technologies at play are well defined. I think our demonstration, together with other work integrating control of trapped ion qubits, could tip the game on its head and surprise some people that maybe the rules arent what they thought.But really I just hope that it spurs more out of the box ideas that could enable quantum computing technologies to break through towards practical applications.

Analyst Notes:

Note: Moor Insights & Strategy writers and editors may have contributed to this article.

Disclosure: Moor Insights & Strategy, like all research and analyst firms, provides or has provided paid research, analysis, advising, or consulting to many high-tech companies in the industry, including 8x8, Advanced Micro Devices, Amazon, Applied Micro, ARM, Aruba Networks, AT&T, AWS, A-10 Strategies, Bitfusion, Blaize, Calix, Cisco Systems, Clear Software, Cloudera, Clumio, Cognitive Systems, CompuCom, Dell, Dell EMC, Dell Technologies, Diablo Technologies, Digital Optics, Dreamchain, Echelon, Ericsson, Extreme Networks, Flex, Foxconn, Frame, Fujitsu, Gen Z Consortium, Glue Networks, GlobalFoundries, Google (Nest-Revolve), Google Cloud, HP Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Honeywell, Huawei Technologies, IBM, Ion VR, Inseego, Intel, Interdigital, Jabil Circuit, Konica Minolta, Lattice Semiconductor, Lenovo, Linux Foundation, MapBox, Mavenir, Marseille Inc, Mayfair Equity, Meraki (Cisco), Mesophere, Microsoft, Mojo Networks, National Instruments, NetApp, Nightwatch, NOKIA (Alcatel-Lucent), Nortek, Novumind, NVIDIA, ON Semiconductor, ONUG, OpenStack Foundation, Oracle, Poly, Panasas, Peraso, Pexip, Pixelworks, Plume Design, Portworx, Pure Storage, Qualcomm, Rackspace, Rambus, Rayvolt E-Bikes, Red Hat, Residio, Samsung Electronics, SAP, SAS, Scale Computing, Schneider Electric, Silver Peak, SONY, Springpath, Spirent, Splunk, Sprint, Stratus Technologies, Symantec, Synaptics, Syniverse, Synopsys, Tanium, TE Connectivity, TensTorrent, Tobii Technology, Twitter, Unity Technologies, UiPath, Verizon Communications, Vidyo, VMware, Wave Computing, Wellsmith, Xilinx, Zebra, Zededa, and Zoho which may be cited in this article

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MIT Lincoln Laboratory Creates The First Trapped-Ion Quantum Chip With Integrated Photonics - Forbes