We all know that technology has been advancing at a rapid pace. Over the last decade, we have seen major developments in the tech world and this has improved our lives in many ways. One of the most exciting technologies currently being developed is Quantum Computing; a new concept that uses quantum phenomena to carry out complex computations.
The development of this technology came about due to the need to compute calculations which cannot be processed by classical computers. The latter manipulate ones and zeroes to crunch through operations. Alternatively, quantum computing also uses qubits and these have a third state called “superposition” that allows them to represent a one or a zero at the same time. Such technology will help us overcome many challenges more efficiently. Today, researchers and scientists all over the world are discovering the true value of quantum processors; using them to solve optimisation problems, from figuring out the best way to schedule flights at an airport to determining the best delivery routes. This ground-breaking technology is quickly finding more ways of being valuable, but this took quite a long time to become common.
In 1927, almost a 100 years ago, a German physicist by the name of Werner Heisenberg, introduced the uncertainty principle. This was discovered at a time when Quantum mechanics had just been introduced and it asserted that one cannot know everything about a quantum particle at one point in time. Fast forward to 2019 and IBM launched the Q System One, enabling quantum computers to operate beyond the capabilities of classical computers in a research lab for the first time. With this release, demand for quantum computers among businesses is now growing at a faster rate than ever. As a result, IBM announced that it will have 1,000 qubit machines in 2023. The company is not alone in the quantum industry, with Microsoft and Google also racing to build a reliable quantum computer.
In a recent interview, IonQ CEO and President, Peter Chapman, suggested that in around 5 years, the desktop quantum computer could become the new norm. However, many think that he is being too optimistic with that timespan. On the other hand, Alan Baratz, CEO at D-Wave Systems, argues that working with super-conducting technology requires a large quantum refrigeration unit, called a dilution fridge. This makes it highly unlikely that we will have desktop quantum computers in 5 years time.
Recent news shows that various countries are keeping their eyes peeled for opportunities that might come around. The UK government has announced that it will invest $13.36 million in building its first commercial quantum computer, in order to allow businesses and researchers to make the most out of its capabilities and this will be available to use within the next few years. UK minister, Amanda Solloway, was quoted as saying “Our ambition is to be the world’s first quantum-ready economy, which could provide UK businesses and industries with billions of pounds worth of opportunities.” The country has, in fact, already invested over $1.34 billion in a one-year national programme designed to boost quantum technologies. Various other programmes, such as the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), a $123 million venture, also show that the country is committed to improving the commercialization of quantum technologies.
Various governments around the world are following in the footsteps of the UK. The US Government recently announced a $1 billion investment in Artificial Intelligence and Quantum computing. Many companies are looking ahead to the future. By 2023, IBM wants to radically improve the performance of quantum processors by up to 41 times their current performance. The company believes that quantum computers will emerge within the next decade and these could be capable of breaking encryptions, improving artificial intelligence and transforming the development of medicine as we know it today. Moreover, many also believe that if quantum computers were already fully available, the COVID-19 vaccine would have been developed in a matter of days.
In any case, there is still a lot of uncertainty as to whether this technology will reach its full potential. At this early stage, it is very difficult to make predictions. However, as the tech industry continuously takes bigger leaps towards this ground-breaking technology, the foreseeable future might see many companies opt for quantum computers.
