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As the landscape of quantum computing evolves, a consensus is emerging among experts from leading tech firms like Google and IBM, alongside smaller enterprises such as D-Wave Quantum and TreQ, regarding the most promising applications of quantum technology. These applications span diverse sectors, including advancements in healthcare and improvements in logistics. However, uncertainty remains about the long-term implications and viability of quantum computing in commercial settings.
Unlike traditional computing, which utilizes bits that can represent either a zero or a one, quantum computing leverages quantum bits or qubits. A defining feature of qubits is their ability to exist in multiple states simultaneously, allowing for enhanced communication and information processing speeds that traditional bits cannot match.
Within the quantum computing domain, there are predominantly two technological approaches. The widely recognized method is the universal gate-based model, while the other, referred to as annealing quantum computing, serves a different purpose. Mandy Birch, CEO and founder of TreQ, a company dedicated to quantum systems engineering, noted that these two methodologies cater to different needs in the marketplace.
Major players like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and IBM are heavily invested in gate-model quantum computing, each employing unique qubit technologies and strategic approaches. In contrast, D-Wave has focused primarily on annealing technology, which helps businesses optimize operations. While annealing technology is not as advanced as gate models still in development, it offers practical benefits that can be realized today.
“It’s more of a heuristic than an absolute solution,” Birch remarked regarding the capabilities of annealing technology. Nonetheless, it provides companies with a means to enhance operational efficiency beyond what is achievable through traditional computing solutions.
Quantum chip applications: Hype vs. reality
Charina Chou, COO of Google Quantum AI and the mind behind the quantum processor Willow chip, emphasized the unique capabilities of quantum computers. “Quantum computers can tackle challenges that even the most advanced AI or supercomputers cannot manage,” she stated during the recent SXSW conference.
This concept centers on the notion of quantum supremacy, where quantum systems efficiently solve complex problems that classical computers are fundamentally unable to address—implying that a five-minute quantum computation could take an astronomical period to complete on a conventional binary supercomputer. Similarly, achieving quantum advantage indicates that a quantum system outperforms classical counterparts on particular tasks.
D-Wave and research institutions like Vancouver’s Quantum Matter Institute recently released a groundbreaking report demonstrating that annealing quantum technology has achieved “the world’s first and only demonstration of quantum computational supremacy on a useful, real-world problem.” Their research revealed that simulations of magnetic materials could be completed in minutes, a task that would take nearly one million years on classical supercomputers. D-Wave’s CEO, Alan Baratz, highlighted the significance of this advancement for technologies utilized in medical devices such as MRI and heart scanners, which rely on magnetic materials.
Baratz noted, “The ability to visualize aspects of the human body that currently elude us can lead to improved diagnostics and understanding.” D-Wave is currently being utilized by companies like Mastercard and NTT Docomo, proving its commercial viability in real-world applications today. “We are not discussing a development that is 15 or 20 years away,” Baratz emphasized. The company is also collaborating with Patterson Food Group to enhance workforce scheduling efficiency.
Although D-Wave’s revenue remains modest, with the latest quarterly sales reported at $1.9 million, the real-world implications of quantum technology appear promising.
Chou shared a personal anecdote regarding the potential of quantum advancements in medicine, recounting her husband’s challenging battle with cancer and the clinical trial that ultimately saved his life. She asserts that quantum computing could significantly enhance our understanding of molecular behavior, potentially leading to breakthroughs in drug discovery and treatment approaches.
Drug discovery a good quantum bet for future
In the realm of gate-model quantum computing, Birch envisions transformative changes wherever high-performance computing is critical. However, she expressed uncertainty regarding the timeline for these advancements, speculating that they could unfold over five, ten, or even twenty years.
She anticipates significant quantum optimization applications within the financial sector and a transformative impact on the pharmaceutical industry, given the sector’s reliance on organic compounds and the inherently quantum mechanical nature of all matter and energy.
Birch explained, “The complexities of molecular dynamics are such that traditional computational methods can quickly become unwieldy.” She envisions a future where drug discovery can be expedited through extensive simulations conducted digitally, allowing researchers to conduct countless assessments before moving to practical lab experiments. This advance could enable professionals to identify solutions more efficiently, with the potential to also bolster fields like aerospace and defense.
Despite certain concerns around the ethical implications of powerful quantum technology, Birch argues that technology itself is neutral; it is the human application that determines whether its impact is beneficial or detrimental.
Birch mentioned the everyday applications of quantum technology, such as optimization in logistics, where even a 1% efficiency increase in fuel usage for companies like FedEx and UPS can yield substantial savings. Port logistics optimization is already being explored with quantum solutions.
Ultimately, it is likely that future quantum innovations will leverage hybrid models, integrating classical supercomputers with quantum processors. While certain calculations can be performed natively on quantum systems, utilizing existing infrastructure serves practical purposes in a rapidly advancing technological era.
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www.cnbc.com