Quantum computing has an air of magic about it, largely because quantum theory does things that don’t sound possible based on what we see and understand every day.
Quantum theory gives us strange things such as light being simultaneously a discrete particle and a continuous wave, and mind-boggling concepts such as quantum entanglement, where you can modify a particle on one side of the planet and have a particle on the other side of the planet adjust accordingly.
This is the strange stuff from which quantum computing emerges, along with even more far-out technologies such as quantum teleportation. But while quantum teleportation has been proven but is nowhere near being commercially viable, quantum computing is on the cusp of commercial viability. In fact, there are real-world examples of quantum computing in the wild today.
The promise of quantum computing is better computing performance on certain processor-intensive tasks.
With traditional computing, there are only two states: on and off, which correspond with the 0s and 1s we hear about in Computer Sci 101. But with the quantum bits used in quantum computing (qubits), multiple states are possible simultaneously, not just 0 and 1. This means that multiple calculations can be carried out simultaneously and at speeds traditional computers cannot come close to matching. Quantum computing represents a whole new way of computing.
Currently there is a fair amount of hype around quantum computing and what it might herald for business. Some of what’s written is true, and a little bit is false. But mostly there’s confusion around when quantum computing will find its way into commercial life, and what it will mean.
Here are five things you should know about quantum computing right now, as the technology exists today.
1. Quantum Computers Already Are in the Wild
The first commercial quantum computer was sold by D-Wave SystemsOpens a new window to Lockheed Martin back in 2011Opens a new window . Both IBM and Rigetti offer online access to quantum computers to the public through the IBM Quantum ExperienceOpens a new window and Rigetti Cloud Quantum ServicesOpens a new window . Other providers, including Google, Microsoft and Amazon, have announced plans to provide similar access.
“Quantum computers are available for use now,†notes Dr. Bob Sutor, vice president for IBM QOpens a new window Ecosystem Development at IBM Research. “We have 5-qubit and 14-qubit public systems in use by more than 175,000 developers, scientists, engineers and students from all over the world. We also have commercial 20-qubit systems and the first 53-qubit system available for more than 80 organizations in the IBM Q Network.â€
Businesses such as VolkswagenOpens a new window , ExxonMobilOpens a new window , JPMorgan ChaseOpens a new window and Mitsubishi ChemicalOpens a new window are all testing applications for quantum computers, although none are ready for prime time quite yet.
2. New Algorithms are Needed Before Widespread Use
One of the key problems holding back quantum computers today is that they require entirely new software and ways of thinking. That’s slowing down development when combined with the relatively few quantum computers available today.
“Access to quantum computers is currently akin to access to mainframe computers in the ‘60s and ‘70s,†says Dr. Joel Wallman, co-founder of quantum computing software maker Quantum BenchmarkOpens a new window , and an assistant professor of applied mathematics at the Institute for Quantum ComputingOpens a new window at the University of Waterloo.
“You have limited time to access the hardware, the hardware is error-prone, and the best ways of operating a quantum computer has not been determined,†he says. “Consequently, we have yet to prototype and debug algorithms that will work reliably on near-term quantum devices.â€
3. Error-Correction is a Big Problem
Near-term quantum computers are error-prone and do not have the error correction capabilities the industry hopes to develop, according to Wallman. These errors can be suppressed with software, but they still hold back widespread commercial application until a better solution can be found for handling error-correction.
Until then, quantum computers will have more niche applications.
“In the longer term, more than 10 years, we will eventually transition to error-corrected quantum computers that will be robust to errors through the use of quantum error correction,†notes William Oliver, an MIT associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science who teaches the university’s xPro course on quantum computingOpens a new window .
These machines will be universal, he says, and be able to perform any algorithm. But that’s still at least a decade away.
4. Early Applications Will Be Complex Modeling and Weighing Options
The first use cases for quantum computers will likely focus on two broad categories, according to Tim Zanni, global and US technology sector lead for consultancy KPMGOpens a new window .
“One is analyzing huge sets of alternatives and identifying the best solution. This capability can apply to traffic routing, supply chain and portfolio management, for example,†he says. “The second category will be creating complex simulations to replicate and study real-life environments that usually have a vast number of variables, such as drug discovery, material science and market forecasts.â€
Microsoft already has quantum-inspired algorithms ready for customers in areas of optimization and distribution modeling, according to Zanni.
5. Co-Processors and Cloud Services Are Where You’ll See Quantum First
Because quantum computers are expensive to maintain, and are best-suited for computing tasks that juggle many variables, don’t expect a quantum computer to show up in the office any time soon. First quantum computing will come as a cloud service, then probably as a co-processor that kicks in for specialized calculations.
“When quantum computers become commercially available, they will likely be owned by a small number of companies that will provide cloud-based quantum-as-a-service,†notes Zanni.
“In the near-term,†adds Oliver at MIT, “we envision a quantum computer working as a co-processor or accelerator for a conventional computer. It will target applications such as optimization, quantum chemistry and quantum materials. That is, simulating things too large to simulate on conventional computers alone.â€
So quantum computers exist today, and companies already are experimenting with the technology. But there are still issues to work out, and both systems and software to design before quantum computers start to penetrate business.
We’re almost there. But not quite yet.