The emergence of quantum computing has led industry heavyweights to fast track their research and innovations. This week, Google conducted the largest chemical simulation on a quantum computer to date. The U.S. Department of Energy, on the other hand, launched five new Quantum Information Science (QIS) Research Centers. Will this accelerate quantum computings progress?
Quantum technology is the next big wave in the tech landscape. As opposed to traditional computers where all the information emails, tweets, YouTube videos, and Facebook photos are streams of electrical pulses in binary digits, 1s and 0s; quantum computers rely on quantum bits or qubits to store information. Qubits are subatomic particles, such as electrons or photons which change their state regularly. Therefore, they can be 1s and 0s at the same time. This enables quantum computers to run multiple complex computational tasks simultaneously and faster when compared to digital computers, mainframes, and servers.
Introduced in the 1980s, quantum computing can unlock the complexities across different industries much faster than traditional computers. A quantum computer can decipher complex encryption systems that can easily impact digital banking, cryptocurrencies, and e-commerce sectors, which heavily depend on encrypted data. Quantum computers can expedite the discovery of new medicines, aid in climate change, power AI, transform logistics, and design new materials. In the U.S., technology giants, including IBM, Google, Honeywell, Microsoft, Intel, IonQ, and Rigetti Computing, are leading the race to build quantum computers and gain a foothold in the quantum computing space. Whereas Alibaba, Baidu, Huawei are leading companies in China.
For a long time, the U.S. and its allies, such as Japan and Germany, had been working hard to compete with China to dominate the quantum technology space. In 2018, the U.S. government released the National Strategy Overview for Quantum Information Science to reduce technical skills gaps and accelerate quantum computing research and development.
In 2019, Google claimed quantum supremacy for supercomputers when the companys Sycamore processor performed specific tasks in 200 seconds, which would have taken a supercomputer 10,000 years to complete. In the same year, Intel rolled out Horse Ridge, a cryogenic quantum control chip, to reduce the quantum computing complexities and accelerate quantum practicality.
Tech news: Is Data Portability the Answer To Anti-Competitive Practices?
Whats 2020 Looking Like For Quantum Computing?
In July 2020, IBM announced a research partnership with the Japanese business and academia to advance quantum computing innovations. This alliance will deepen ties between the countries and build an ecosystem to improve quantum skills and advance research and development.
More recently, in June 2020, Honeywell announced the development of the worlds highest-performing quantum computer. AWS, Microsoft, and several other IaaS providers have announced quantum cloud services, an initiative to advance quantum computing adoption. In August 2020, AWS announced the general availability of its Amazon Braket, a quantum cloud service that allows developers to design, develop, test, and run quantum algorithms.
Since last year, auto manufacturers, such as Daimler and Volkswagen have been leveraging quantum computers to identify new methods to improve electric vehicle battery performance. Pharmaceutical companies are also using the technology to develop new medicines and drugs.
Last week, the Google AI Quantum team used their quantum processor, Sycamore, to simulate changes in the configuration of a chemical molecule, diazene. During the process, the computer was able to describe the changes in the positions of hydrogen accurately. The computer also gave an accurate description of the binding energy of hydrogen in bigger chains.
If quantum computers develop the ability to predict chemical processes, it would advance the development of a wide range of new materials with unknown properties. Current quantum computers, unfortunately, lack the augmented scaling required for such a task. Although todays computers are not ready to take on such a challenge yet, computer scientists hope to accomplish this in the near future as tech giants like Google invest in quantum computing-related research.
Tech news: Will Googles Nearby Share Have Anything Transformative to Offer?
It, therefore, came as a relief to many computer scientists when the U.S. Department of Energy announced an investment of $625 million over the next five years for five newly formed Quantum Information Science (QIS) Research Centers in the U.S. The newly formed hubs are an amalgam of research universities, national labs, and tech titans in quantum computing. Each of the research hubs is led by the Energy Departments Argonne National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Fermi National Laboratory, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; powered by Microsoft, IBM, Intel, Riggeti, and ColdQuanta. This partnership aims to advance quantum computing commercialization.
Chetan Nayak, general manager of Quantum Hardware at Microsoft, says, While quantum computing will someday have a profound impact, todays quantum computing systems are still nascent technologies. To scale these systems, we must overcome a number of scientific challenges. Microsoft has been tackling these challenges head-on through our work towards developing topological qubits, classical information processing devices for quantum control, new quantum algorithms, and simulations.
At the start of this year, Daniel Newman, principal analyst and founding partner at Futurum Research, predicted that 2020 will be a big year for investors and Silicon Valley to invest in quantum computing companies. He said, It will be incredibly impactful over the next decade, and 2020 should be a big year for advancement and investment.
Quantum computing is still in the development phase, and the lack of suppliers and skilled researchers might be one of the influential factors in its establishment. However, if tech giants, and researchers continue to collaborate on a large scale, quantum technology can turbocharge innovation at a large scale.
What are your thoughts on the progress of quantum computing? Comment below or let us know on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. Wed love to hear from you!
See the article here:
The Quantum Dream: Are We There Yet? - Toolbox
- Time Crystals Could be the Key to the First Quantum Computer - TrendinTech [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2017]
- The Quantum Computer Revolution Is Closer Than You May Think - National Review [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2017]
- Chinese scientists build world's first quantum computing machine - India Today [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2017]
- Quantum Computing | D-Wave Systems [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2017]
- Quantum computing utilizes 3D crystals - Johns Hopkins News-Letter [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2017]
- Quantum Computing and What All Good IT Managers Should Know - TrendinTech [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2017]
- World's First Quantum Computer Made By China 24000 Times Faster Than International Counterparts - Fossbytes [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2017]
- China adds a quantum computer to high-performance computing arsenal - PCWorld [Last Updated On: May 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 6th, 2017]
- Quantum computing: A simple introduction - Explain that Stuff [Last Updated On: May 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 6th, 2017]
- What is Quantum Computing? Webopedia Definition [Last Updated On: May 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 6th, 2017]
- Quantum Computing Market Forecast 2017-2022 | Market ... [Last Updated On: May 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 6th, 2017]
- China hits milestone in developing quantum computer - South China Morning Post [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2017]
- China builds five qubit quantum computer sampling and will scale to 20 qubits by end of this year and could any beat ... - Next Big Future [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2017]
- Five Ways Quantum Computing Will Change the Way We Think ... - PR Newswire (press release) [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2017]
- Quantum Computing Demands a Whole New Kind of Programmer - Singularity Hub [Last Updated On: May 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 9th, 2017]
- New materials bring quantum computing closer to reality - Phys.org - Phys.Org [Last Updated On: May 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 9th, 2017]
- Researchers Invent Nanoscale 'Refrigerator' for Quantum ... - Sci-News.com [Last Updated On: May 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 11th, 2017]
- China's New Type of Quantum Computing Device, Built Inside a Diamond - TrendinTech [Last Updated On: May 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 11th, 2017]
- Molecular magnets closer to application in quantum computing - Next Big Future [Last Updated On: May 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 11th, 2017]
- New Materials Could Make Quantum Computers More Practical - Tom's Hardware [Last Updated On: May 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 11th, 2017]
- Home News Computer Europe Takes Quantum Computing to the Next Level With this Billion Euro... - TrendinTech [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2017]
- Researchers seek to advance quantum computing - The Stanford Daily [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2017]
- quantum computing - WIRED UK [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2017]
- Scientists Invent Nanoscale Refrigerator For Quantum Computers - Wall Street Pit [Last Updated On: May 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 14th, 2017]
- D-Wave Closes $50M Facility to Fund Next Generation of Quantum Computers - Marketwired (press release) [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2017]
- Quantum Computers Sound Great, But Who's Going to Program Them? - TrendinTech [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2017]
- Quantum Computing Could Use Graphene To Create Stable Qubits - International Business Times [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2017]
- Bigger is better: Quantum volume expresses computer's limit - Ars Technica [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2017]
- IBM's Newest Quantum Computing Processors Have Triple the Qubits of Their Last - Futurism [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2017]
- It's time to decide how quantum computing will help your business - Techworld Australia [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2017]
- IBM makes a leap in quantum computing power - PCWorld [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2017]
- IBM scientists demonstrate ballistic nanowire connections, a potential future key component for quantum computing - Phys.Org [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2017]
- The route to high-speed quantum computing is paved with error - Ars Technica UK [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2017]
- IBM makes leap in quantum computing power - ITworld [Last Updated On: May 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 22nd, 2017]
- Researchers push forward quantum computing research - The ... - Economic Times [Last Updated On: May 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 22nd, 2017]
- Quantum Computing Research Given a Boost by Stanford Team - News18 [Last Updated On: May 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 22nd, 2017]
- US playing catch-up in quantum computing - The Register-Guard [Last Updated On: May 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 22nd, 2017]
- Stanford researchers push forward quantum computing research ... - The Indian Express [Last Updated On: May 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 23rd, 2017]
- NASA Scientist Eleanor Rieffel to give a talk on quantum computing - Chapman University: Happenings (blog) [Last Updated On: May 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 23rd, 2017]
- Graphene Just Brought Us One Step Closer to Practical Quantum Computers - Futurism [Last Updated On: May 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 23rd, 2017]
- IBM Q Offers Quantum Computing as a Service - The Merkle [Last Updated On: May 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 23rd, 2017]
- How quantum computing increases cybersecurity risks | Network ... - Network World [Last Updated On: May 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 23rd, 2017]
- Quantum Computing Is Going Commercial With the Potential ... [Last Updated On: May 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 23rd, 2017]
- Is the US falling behind in the race for quantum computing? - AroundtheO [Last Updated On: May 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 26th, 2017]
- Quantum computing, election pledges and a thief who made science history - Nature.com [Last Updated On: May 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 26th, 2017]
- Top 5: Things to know about quantum computers - TechRepublic [Last Updated On: May 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 26th, 2017]
- Google Plans to Demonstrate the Supremacy of Quantum ... - IEEE Spectrum [Last Updated On: May 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 26th, 2017]
- Quantum Computing Is Real, and D-Wave Just Open ... - WIRED [Last Updated On: May 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 26th, 2017]
- IBM to Sell Use of Its New 17-Qubit Quantum Computer over the Cloud - All About Circuits [Last Updated On: May 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 28th, 2017]
- Doped Diamonds Push Practical Quantum Computing Closer to Reality - Motherboard [Last Updated On: May 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 28th, 2017]
- For more advanced computing, technology needs to make a ... - CIO Dive [Last Updated On: May 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 30th, 2017]
- Microsoft, Purdue Extend Quantum Computing Partnership To Create More Stable Qubits - Tom's Hardware [Last Updated On: May 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 30th, 2017]
- AI and Quantum Computers Are Our Best Weapons Against Cyber Criminals - Futurism [Last Updated On: May 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 30th, 2017]
- Toward mass-producible quantum computers | MIT News - MIT News [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2017]
- Purdue, Microsoft Partner On Quantum Computing Research | WBAA - WBAA [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2017]
- Tektronix AWG Pulls Test into Era of Quantum Computing - Electronic Design [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2017]
- Telstra just wants a quantum computer to offer as-a-service - ZDNet [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2017]
- D-Wave partners with U of T to move quantum computing along - Financial Post [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2017]
- MIT Just Unveiled A Technique to Mass Produce Quantum Computers - Futurism [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2017]
- Here's how we can achieve mass-produced quantum computers ... - ScienceAlert [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2017]
- Research collaborative pursues advanced quantum computing - Phys.Org [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2017]
- Team develops first blockchain that can't be hacked by quantum computer - Siliconrepublic.com [Last Updated On: June 3rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 3rd, 2017]
- Quantum computers to drive customer insights, says CBA CIO - CIO - CIO Australia [Last Updated On: June 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 6th, 2017]
- FinDEVr London: Preparing for the Dark Side of Quantum Computing - GlobeNewswire (press release) [Last Updated On: June 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 8th, 2017]
- Scientists May Have Found a Way to Combat Quantum Computer Blockchain Hacking - Futurism [Last Updated On: June 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 9th, 2017]
- Purdue, Microsoft to Collaborate on Quantum Computer - Photonics.com [Last Updated On: June 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 9th, 2017]
- From the Abacus to Supercomputers to Quantum Computers - Duke Today [Last Updated On: June 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 12th, 2017]
- Microsoft and Purdue work on scalable topological quantum computer - Next Big Future [Last Updated On: June 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 12th, 2017]
- Are Enterprises Ready to Take a Quantum Leap? - IT Business Edge [Last Updated On: June 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 12th, 2017]
- A Hybrid of Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Is Spawning New Ventures - IEEE Spectrum [Last Updated On: June 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 14th, 2017]
- The Machine of Tomorrow Today: Quantum Computing on the Verge - Bloomberg [Last Updated On: June 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 14th, 2017]
- KPN CISO details Quantum computing attack dangers - Mobile World Live [Last Updated On: June 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 15th, 2017]
- Accenture, Biogen, 1QBit Launch Quantum Computing App to ... - HIT Consultant [Last Updated On: June 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 15th, 2017]
- Angry Birds, qubits and big ideas: Quantum computing is tantalisingly close - The Australian Financial Review [Last Updated On: June 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 15th, 2017]
- Consortium Applies Quantum Computing to Drug Discovery for Neurological Diseases - Drug Discovery & Development [Last Updated On: June 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 15th, 2017]
- Accenture, 1QBit partner for drug discovery through quantum computing - ZDNet [Last Updated On: June 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 15th, 2017]
- How to get ahead in quantum machine learning AND attract Goldman Sachs - eFinancialCareers [Last Updated On: June 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 15th, 2017]
- Quantum computing, the machines of tomorrow - The Japan Times [Last Updated On: June 16th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 16th, 2017]
- Toward optical quantum computing - MIT News [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2017]
- Its time to decide how quantum computing will help your ... [Last Updated On: June 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 18th, 2017]