Quantum supremacy is under way: why should you care?
Quantum computing! Is it still a mystery to the world?
Ever heard of advanced math machines? These can also be called quantum computers. Quantum computers can solve complex problems faster than conventional computers. Quantum computing now operates on the theory of quantum mechanics, which not only allows a particle to exist in two simultaneous conditions, called superposition, but also allows two particles to influence one another at once despite their distance, called abduction.
Although Albert Einstein described the theory as creepy, he has taken quantum computing to a new level.
Technology giants like Microsoft, IBM, and Google are already taking advantage of the quantum world. Multiple researchers are working on newer quantum algorithms and applications to try and realize the true potential of quantum computers.
Google claimed that it achieved quantum dominance in October 2019.
Quantum dominance: what does it mean?
What does it even mean to achieve quantum dominance?
It simply means that quantum computers have reached a level where they can be controlled and used. From modeling large amounts of data to cracking encryption of anything in seconds – it is all possible to control it with quantum computing.
Achieving quantum dominance would be astounding for science and technology, but it will take a long time to change the world.
Quantum dominance enables computers to complete or perform computations at a rate that is very unimaginable for conventional computers today. Others say that quantum machines will one day have the capability and advancement in areas such as artificial intelligence, allowing even the most powerful supercomputers to be built, ideally looking like toys. A device developed by Google is said to have completed a mathematical calculation in 3 minutes and 20 seconds, something even conventional computers would not be able to do 10,000 years later, as published in the scientific journal Nature.
Why is quantum dominance needed?
Quantum dominance is a key fundamental development in computing. Therefore, harnessing quantum systems offers great market potential.
For example, quantum computers have great advantages in simulating quantum systems.
Simulations of quantum systems give us the advantage of studying and discovering intriguing details, such as how new drugs and drugs are designed, how atoms and molecules interact, and how super-conductors work at room temperature.
Do you have any idea how quantum computers work?
As mentioned earlier, it tends to harness the phenomena of quantum mechanics. Ideally, a classic computer uses a binary format ie one or zero (bits) to process information. However, the same is not true of quantum computers. They use logical units called qubits, which can be placed in a quantum state – representing zero and one at a time.
While pieces in classic computers now operate independently, in quantum computers one qubit can influence the state of other qubits in the system to achieve one solution. Not to mention, why quantum computers are different from classical computers.
Quantum computers in our daily life
Ultimately, companies are still racing to commercialize quantum computers. The first demo Google gave in October 2019 was really proof of concept. A computer with 53 qubits (the basic unit of computation) completed a mathematical calculation in just over 3 minutes, a problem that would take a supercomputer 10,000 years to solve, according to the tech giant.
Researchers are still looking for answers about how quantum computing will revolutionize the future. Before we find all the answers, let’s see how quantum computers can be put to good use in our daily lives.
- developing new drugs
- Great effort for artificial intelligence
- Optimize traffic flow for better commuter service
- Strengthen network security
- Improve weather forecasts and detect climate change
- Save energy
- financial modeling
- battery improvement
- still solar
- fertilizer cleaner
- discover electronic materials
to close:
The Tractica market report predicts that the computer market is bound to grow strongly over the next decade.
Quantum computing now exceeds problems that can be solved by classical computers. We already know how companies can make the most of quantum computing, but it’s too early to say whether quantum computing will be the next revolution.
Yet, it has paved the way for a new era. For example, a company called Menten AI has begun to look for ways to discover new drugs that fall somewhere between large biologics and small molecules, as well as find treatments for COVID-19.
In addition, Amazon has begun to provide access to the technology and a collaborative environment between academia and industry.
Apart from Google and IBM, other big players in quantum computing include Honeywell, D-Wave, MIT, Volkswagen Group, JPMorgan and Microsoft, among others.
Will quantum computing bubble or not?
