The Week in Quantum Computing - March 18th 2024 - Pasqal goes 10.000 qubits. ZapataAI Montecarlos. QML Useful?
Issue #177
The Week in Quantum Computing. Brought to you by Sergio Gago (@piratecto).
Quick Recap
ZapataAI releases a paper on improving Montercarlos for Finance by 8000x. Pasqal promises 10.000 qubits for 2026. Meanwhile two groups of researchers contradict each other on the uses of QML for real problems vs finding finally problems to be tackled by quantum computers. Etherenum founder starts thinking how to make its chain quantum secure. Rolls-Royce, Riverlane and Xanadu work together on engines. Quantistry raises €3M funding round. QMWare, Nvidia and Oracle announce collaboration for QPU-GPU powered datacenters in Oracle cloud. Meanwhle Nvidia pushes on QPU leveraged datacenter on what they call “Quantum Accelerated Supercomputing”.
Lastly, OpenAI has hired a researcher from PsiQuantum. Sure, I may be off and time will tell, but this was my message on LinkedIn:
Ok... one scientist from one quantum company moves into AI... This happens literally all the time. AI pays far batter than quantum (at least today) and many of the underlying skills are very similar if not the same.
Connecting the dots to say that OpenAI is going to quantum is perhaps a bit to far. (Don't get me wrong, I would LOVE IT)
While I deeply believe on the qNLP work going around, and I do think Quantum (or quantum inspired) methods will greatly help AI. There are many GPT version to come before that happens.
We are seeing fantastic advances on making LLMs smaller and less energy consuming (some with the help of tensor networks). But the amount of qubits we would need to truly support a "Large" LM is very far from any quantum roadmap today. Same applies to the usual optimization methods for classical DNNs.
Anyhow, let's put a pin on it, and you can send me a screenshot of my comment in the future if we end up seeing a qGPTX!
Join me at this event. Quantum music gig included!
Quantum Algorithms - Robin Kothari
Fantastic talks from QIP Taipei 2024 to learn about the building blocks of Quantum Computers. Put aside some good 3 hours for the videos and another 3 hours to digest them.
Researchers Uncover Inaccuracies in Qubit Rotations on IBM’s Public Quantum Computer
A research team from the University of Warsaw and the Polish Academy of Sciences has discovered inaccuracies in qubit rotations on IBM's public quantum computer. The scientists measured a single qubit rotated by π/2 about a random axis and found systematic deviations from theoretical predictions. These deviations could not be fully explained by simple corrections due to nonlinearities of pulse generations, indicating that corrections to the ideal model are necessary. The findings provide a diagnostic tool for testing the accuracy of qubit rotations, which is crucial for the development of quantum computing.
How Vitalik Buterin Plans to Make Ethereum Safe From Quantum Attack
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has proposed a detailed plan to protect the Ethereum blockchain from potential quantum threats. The plan involves the use of quantum-resistant cryptography, such as Winternitz signatures and STARKs, integrated through account abstraction. Buterin also suggests a "simple recovery fork" to safeguard user funds in the event of an unexpected quantum leap. The proposal includes an Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) for a hard fork to bolster network security against quantum risks. Despite the potential threat from quantum computing, Buterin notes that most Ethereum keys resist quantum attacks due to the irreversible nature of hashing.
https://beincrypto.com/ethereum-vitalik-buterin-quantum-attack/
Why quantum computing isn’t going to replace classic CPUs anytime soon (but they will work together)
Aruna Kolluru, Chief Technologist, AI, at Dell Technologies, explains that quantum computing will not replace classical computing but will augment its capabilities. IDC predicts that investments in quantum computing will reach $16.4 billion by 2027, marking an 11.3% growth from 2021. The Australian Government estimates that quantum technology could contribute $6.1 billion to GDP and create over 35,000 jobs by 2045. Quantum computing uses qubits, enabling it to solve computations beyond the reach of conventional CPUs. Dell has built a hybrid classical-quantum system and tested a platform with IonQ that allows execution of both quantum simulation and classical system workloads.
Reality check for quantum computing despite its beauty
Despite the potential of quantum computing, investments in the field have declined by 50% from $2.2 billion in 2022 to $1.2 billion in 2023, according to the State of Quantum 2024 report by IQM. Tech giants like IBM, Alphabet, and Microsoft are racing to develop quantum computers, while financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs explore its applications. However, Alibaba and Baidu have withdrawn from the race due to high costs and technical challenges. Quantum computers offer unique capabilities for complex problem-solving, but they are unlikely to replace classical computers soon due to their error-prone nature. Dr. Jolly Wong suggests that quantum computing, while theoretically beautiful, currently has limited practical applications.
QCentroid and Quindata.io Join Forces to Revolutionize Quantum Computing for Businesses in the Benelux!
Quantum computing companies QCentroid and Quindata.io have announced a partnership aimed at integrating quantum computing into businesses in the Benelux region. The collaboration will focus on the financial sector, retail, mobility, and cleantech. Carlos Kuchkovsky, CEO of QCentroid Labs, emphasized the goal to simplify quantum computing use, while Borja Gonzalez del Regueral, Managing Partner at Quindata.io, stressed the importance of businesses becoming "Quantum Ready". The partnership promises to provide innovative solutions, a competitive edge through accelerated innovation, and expert guidance in the quantum field.
Blog: Google's Threat model for Post-Quantum Cryptography
Google's Quantum Computing team is developing post-quantum cryptography to counter the potential threats posed by quantum computers to current cryptographic systems. They are focusing on two categories: symmetric encryption and public key cryptography. The team has identified three potential threat models: storage, ephemeral, and active attacks. Google's approach involves implementing and testing post-quantum algorithms in Chrome, with the New Hope algorithm already in trial. The company emphasizes that although quantum computers are not yet a reality, it's critical to prepare for their potential impact on security.
Rolls-Royce, Riverlane, Xanadu Secure £400K for Quantum Jet Engine Modelling in UK-Canada Bi
Rolls-Royce, Riverlane, and Xanadu have secured over £400,000 from Innovate UK and CAD $500,000 from Canada's National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program for a project named CATALYST. The project aims to develop quantum computing applications for modeling air flow through jet engines, aligning with the UK Government’s National Quantum Strategy Missions. The partnership will create a hybrid quantum-classical framework for Rolls-Royce to evaluate and implement new quantum algorithms more efficiently, potentially bringing significant efficiencies to future product design processes. Leigh Lapworth, a Rolls-Royce Fellow in Computational Science, highlighted the project's uniqueness as the first quantum computing R&D collaboration led by a large industry partner. The project is expected to contribute significantly to the UK's quantum pathway goals for 2028, 2032, and 2035.
Quantum security whitepaper: Improving tomorrow’s security by decoding the quantum computing threat
EY Australia has published a whitepaper on quantum security, focusing on the threats and potential solutions presented by quantum computing. The paper discusses how modern security measures could be compromised by quantum computers, and how businesses can prepare for this future threat. The document also highlights the importance of understanding quantum technology and its implications for cybersecurity. This whitepaper serves as a guide for businesses to navigate the complex quantum landscape and underscores the urgency of preparing for a quantum future.
Quantistry Secures €3M Funding
Quantistry, a pioneer in chemical simulations, has successfully secured €3M in funding led by Ananda Impact Ventures, with contributions from Chemovator, IBB Ventures, and a Family Office. The funding will accelerate Quantistry's efforts to revolutionize chemical and material R&D using its advanced cloud-native simulation platform powered by Quantum and AI. CEO Marcel Quennet believes the funding will democratize the technology, shaping the future of chemical R&D and materials science. Alina Bassi from Ananda Impact Ventures emphasizes Quantistry's key role in the future of sustainable materials using quantum chemistry, chemical simulations, and AI.
https://quantistry.com/en/resources/newsroom/quantistry-secures-euro3m-funding
Advancements in Quantum Computing Viewpoint: Building Adoption and Competency in Industry
The narrative around quantum computing is rapidly evolving, with initial reports of quantum computers solving scientific problems with the precision of High-Performance Computers. This is encouraging industry leaders to shift from passive observation to active exploration. Industries dealing with significant uncertainties and materials simulation are the first to invest in quantum computing technology. The article provides insights into the rapid advancement of quantum computers, with a focus on how German companies are developing competence and adoption of this technology. Key concepts like quantum gate operations, superposition, measurement, interference, and entanglement are introduced.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13222-024-00467-4
IBM agreement boosts USC’s quantum computing leadership
USC has entered a new partnership with IBM, establishing the first IBM Quantum Innovation Center on the West Coast. The agreement, part of USC President Carol Folt's Frontiers of Computing initiative, enhances USC's quantum research capabilities and bolsters its status as a quantum research leader. The collaboration gives USC researchers and students cloud access to IBM quantum systems, potentially helping manage complex calculations that may soon surpass the capabilities of traditional silicon processors. Jay Gambetta, IBM Fellow and VP, IBM Quantum, expressed excitement about the collaboration, emphasizing USC's role in advancing research and preparing students for the quantum workforce
https://today.usc.edu/ibm-agreement-boosts-uscs-quantum-computing-leadership/
QMware Announces Collaboration with NVIDIA and Oracle to Advance Hybrid Quantum Computing for Enterprises
QMware, a leading hybrid quantum computing company, has announced a collaboration with NVIDIA and Oracle to develop a new hybrid quantum computing service for enterprises. Utilizing Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) powered by NVIDIA A100 Tensor Core GPU clusters and NVIDIA's CUDA Quantum open-source platform, QMware aims to advance industrial applications of hybrid quantum computing. The initial version of the service will be showcased at Oracle CloudWorld London in March. Martin Peck, Oracle's VP of Technology Software Engineering, and Tim Costa, NVIDIA's Director of Quantum Computing and HPC, both expressed excitement about the potential of hybrid quantum computing in reshaping business operations and innovation.
PASQAL Announces New Roadmap Focused on Business Utility and Scaling Beyond 1,000 Qubits Towards Fault Tolerance Era - 10,000 qubits in 2026
Quantum computing company, PASQAL, has unveiled a new strategic roadmap, emphasizing business utility and a significant scaling up of its systems. The company is ambitiously aiming to surpass the 1,000 qubits milestoneand having 10,000 qubits in 2026, and is setting its sights on the fault tolerance era. This move signifies a major leap in quantum computing capabilities, as it directly addresses the challenge of error correction, a key hurdle in this field. The roadmap highlights PASQAL's commitment to pushing the boundaries of quantum technology and its potential applications in various industries.
https://www.pasqal.com/articles/pasqal-2024-quantum-roadmap-1000-qubits-expansion
Can a classical computer tell if a quantum computer is telling the truth?
Researchers from the University of Innsbruck, the Austrian Academy of Sciences, and Alpine Quantum Technologies have successfully utilized a process known as Mahadev’s protocol to verify the accuracy of quantum computations using a classical computer. This protocol uses post-quantum secure functions, complex calculations that are challenging for even quantum computers but can be easily solved by a classical machine with the correct key. The successful execution of Mahadev's protocol suggests that classical machines could verify the trustworthiness of quantum computations, addressing a significant concern in the field of quantum computing.
https://physicsworld.com/a/can-a-classical-computer-tell-if-a-quantum-computer-is-telling-the-truth/
Unitary Fund 2023 Annual Report
The Unitary Fund's 2023 Annual Report highlights key achievements in the quantum computing sector. The Fund's quantum error mitigation compiler, Mitiq, surpassed 100k downloads with contributions from 67 individuals. Its unitaryHack initiative grew to 700 participants from over 80 countries, awarding 99 bounties across 33 projects. The Fund also awarded a record 23 microgrants for projects ranging from quantum error correction tools to Open Quantum Hardware. A whitepaper released by the Fund underscores the economic potential of quantum computing. William Zeng, President of Unitary Fund, emphasized the importance of the growing, diverse community in driving quantum technology forward.
https://unitary.fund/posts/2023/
Paper: Better than classical? The subtle art of benchmarking quantum machine learning models
A study conducted by Joseph Bowles, Shahnawaz Ahmed, and Maria Schuld has found that classical machine learning models generally outperform quantum classifiers. The researchers used an open-source package based on the PennyLane software framework to test 12 popular quantum machine learning models on 160 datasets for 6 binary classification tasks. Interestingly, they found that removing entanglement from a quantum model often resulted in as good or better performance, suggesting that "quantumness" may not be the critical factor for small learning tasks. This study opens the avenue for further investigations beyond simplistic leaderboard comparisons and raises five crucial questions for quantum model design.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.07059v1
SemiQon announces successful testing and global shipping of its silicon-based 4-qubit quantum chip and ground-breaking transistors
Finland-based startup SemiQon has successfully manufactured and begun global shipping of its silicon-based 4-qubit quantum chip and revolutionary transistors. The chips, produced at SemiQon's Espoo facility, are being distributed to strategic partners worldwide for further R&D, accelerating the development of stable logical qubits. CEO Dr. Himadri Majumdar emphasizes the importance of hardware in moving towards the million qubit era. The company has also made strides in combining classical and quantum elements at cryogenic temperatures, demonstrating low noise and improved control with its manufactured transistors.
Google's Post-Quantum Upgrade Doesn't Mean We're All Protected Yet
Google has begun the process of quantum-proofing Chrome, the world's most popular browser, by deploying a hybrid key encapsulation mechanism (KEM) to secure Transport Layer Security protocol (TLS) network connections. This comes in response to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standardizing post-quantum cryptography (PQC) algorithms, and the National Security Agency (NSA), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and NIST releasing recommendations for organizations to prepare for PQC implementation. However, Andersen Cheng, CEO at Post-Quantum, warns that despite Google's significant steps, the full protection from a quantum attack is not yet achieved as the server side also needs upgrading and wider adoption requires standardization by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)
An Introduction to Quantum Accelerated Supercomputing
Quantum accelerated supercomputing is a global endeavor involving governments, enterprises, and academia, aiming to solve complex problems in fields like bioinformatics, risk management, and climate modeling. It integrates quantum computers into existing supercomputing infrastructures, enabling scientists to program them with familiar tools. Quantum processing units (QPUs) and qubits are the building blocks of quantum computers. Qubits can simultaneously exist in multiple states, offering more flexibility to encode information. Quantum algorithms manipulate quantum information stored in qubits to produce meaningful results. Quantum error correction codes are crucial for practical quantum algorithms. QPUs can accelerate simulations of quantum systems, optimization tasks, AI and machine learning, Monte Carlo estimation, and fluid dynamics. Quantum accelerated supercomputing leverages the strengths and handles the weaknesses of quantum computers.
https://developer.nvidia.com/blog/an-introduction-to-quantum-accelerated-supercomputing/
Quantum Experts Join Forces to Revolutionize European Quantum Computing
ORCA Computing, Pixel Photonics, Sparrow Quantum, and the Niels Bohr Institute (NBI) have announced a collaboration on the Eurostars project 'SupremeQ'. This alliance represents a significant step forward in European quantum computing, bringing together leading experts in the field. The collaboration aims to revolutionize the sector and establish Europe as a global leader in quantum technology. Their joint efforts will be directed towards the 'SupremeQ' project, a significant European initiative in quantum computing.
Tuta becomes the first quantum-resistant email service with new hybrid protocol
German email provider Tuta has launched TutaCrypt, a new hybrid protocol that blends conventional encryption with quantum-resistant algorithms, making it the first email service to offer post-quantum protection. The move anticipates the emergence of quantum computers, which could potentially crack traditional encryption methods. Arne Möhle, CEO of Tuta, highlighted the urgency of post-quantum encryption given the risk of "Harvest Now, Decrypt Later" attacks. The company, which secured a €1.5 million grant from the German government, began its post-quantum quest four years ago, and partnered with the University of Wuppertal to extend the protection to cloud storage.
Zapata AI Speeds Up Monte Carlo Simulation +8,000x for the Financial Services Industry
Zapata AI has developed an innovative alternative to Monte Carlo simulations that dramatically reduces the time and cost required to run crucial calculations in the financial services industry. Using mathematical concepts from quantum physics and quantum information science, Zapata AI's method can provide a speed up of over 8,000x the time it takes to run a comparable Monte Carlo simulation using traditional techniques on the same computational hardware. This breakthrough could significantly reduce the computational costs for financial institutions, particularly in risk management and stress testing scenarios. The development underscores the potential of quantum science to tackle high-dimensional computational problems traditionally plagued by the "curse of dimensionality."
https://zapata.ai/fast-alternative-to-monte-carlo-finance/
What quantum computing could mean for insurance
Quantum computing, currently dominated by tech giants like Google, IBM and Microsoft, is expected to be leveraged by software companies to build new products, according to Brad Powell, VP of software engineering with Rival Insurance Technology. He predicts that brokers and MGAs will benefit through solutions built on top of quantum technology. Experts foresee 'quantum advantage' over traditional computers by 2030. Quantum computers use qubits to hold multiple values simultaneously, offering a revolution in data storage and computation, says Feite Kraay, alliance director for IBM, Kyndryl and ServiceNow with KPMG in Canada. George Beattie, head of innovation at CFC Underwriting, suggests quantum computing will accelerate AI development, bringing it closer to human brain functionality.
Britain curbs quantum computer exports amid fears over foreign military use
The UK government is imposing restrictions on quantum computer exports due to concerns about potential military use by foreign entities. Exporters must now obtain a license to sell powerful quantum computers, a technology now listed as "dual use" by the Export Control Joint Unit. The move follows significant investments in quantum technology by China and Russia. Quantum computers, such as Google's 70-qubit and IBM's 1,121-qubit machines, could outperform traditional supercomputers in areas like chemical development and secure communication decryption. The updated export rules also cover semiconductors and cryogenic cooling systems used in quantum computing.
Paper: Assessing the Benefits and Risks of Quantum Computers
Travis L. Scholten and six other authors have conducted a comprehensive assessment of the benefits and risks of quantum computing. The current maturity of quantum computers is not sufficient for large-scale industrial problems but poses no security risks. They identified two significant trends, new approximate methods and the commercial exploration of quantum applications, which may enable practical quantum computing soon. However, they concluded that quantum computers will likely impact economically before they become cryptographically relevant.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.16317v1
IBM Shares Quantum Use Cases In Dazzling New Book
IBM's Institute for Business Value (IBV) has released the fourth edition of "The Quantum Decade", a comprehensive guide to quantum computing. The book, written by over 70 industry professionals, outlines the key issues and potential solutions in the quantum computing field. A 2021 CEO study revealed that 89% of over 3,000 executives did not see quantum computing as vital for business results in the next two to three years. However, organizations' R&D investment in quantum computing rose 29% from 2021 to 2023, and is expected to increase another 25% by 2025. The book also highlights use cases, including ExxonMobil's exploration of quantum computing to optimize global shipping routes and a breakthrough algorithm in quantum machine learning developed by IBM Quantum and the University of California, Berkeley.
CERN-Backed Quantum Initiative Tackles Global Challenges
CERN, the renowned physics research organization, is backing a quantum initiative aimed at addressing global challenges. The UK-based company, Informa PLC, registered under number 1072954, is involved in the project. The initiative is a significant move in the field of quantum computing, leveraging CERN's expertise and resources. The project's base is at 5 Howick Place, London.
https://www.iotworldtoday.com/quantum/cern-backed-quantum-initiative-tackles-global-challenges
Quantum computers ChatGPT moment is coming
Philip Intallura, Global Head of Quantum Technologies at HSBC, suggests that the world is on the brink of a quantum revolution, particularly in the financial services sector. Despite debates around the timeline, Intallura believes quantum computing's 'ChatGPT moment' could arrive sooner than expected. Quantum computing could have significant commercial and customer impacts, potentially unlocking up to US$700 billion in value for financial services by 2035, according to McKinsey. However, the rise of quantum computing also presents security threats, with potential to break through current encryption methods in the next 10-20 years.
https://www.hsbc.com/news-and-views/views/hsbc-views/quantum-computers-chatgpt-moment-is-coming
Why the QPU Is the Next GPU
Yuval Boger, CMO at QuEra, discusses the potential of Quantum Processing Units (QPUs) to revolutionize computational science, transcending the capabilities of Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). QPUs use qubits and quantum circuit model architecture to solve problems too intensive for classical computing, similar to the transformative impact GPUs had in the 2000s. Despite GPUs' success in parallel processing and integration into data centers, their limitations become apparent in the face of complex problems. QPUs, with their ability to process information on a larger scale due to qubits' superposition and entanglement properties, promise to tackle problems beyond the reach of CPUs and GPUs, thus opening new frontiers in fields like drug discovery, materials science, finance, and AI.
https://builtin.com/articles/quantum-processing-unit-qpu
From quantum AI to photonics, what OpenAI’s latest hire tells us about its future
OpenAI has hired Ben Bartlett, a former quantum systems architect at PsiQuantum, possibly hinting at its interest in quantum AI. Bartlett's research intersects quantum physics, machine learning, and nanophotonics. Quantum computing could potentially improve the efficiency of training large AI models, allowing more accurate results from models with fewer parameters, according to Murray Thom from D-Wave. This may be a solution to the increasing size of AI models, with GPT-4 rumored to have over a trillion parameters. Quantum optimization algorithms could be more effective at determining which features to include or exclude in AI models, resulting in leaner, more accurate models. The integration of quantum computing in AI development could revolutionize the field, making AI models more efficient and precise.
https://www.theregister.com/2024/03/13/quantum_openai_hire/
Physicists Finally Find a Problem That Only Quantum Computers Can Do
Physicists, including John Preskill from the California Institute of Technology and Soonwon Choi from MIT, have identified a problem that only quantum computers can solve, marking a significant step towards demonstrating quantum advantage. The problem relates to the energy of certain quantum systems, specifically their local minimum energy state. This issue is classically hard but quantumly easy, according to Preskill. Researchers, including Robert Huang from Google Quantum AI and Sergey Bravyi from IBM, believe this finding is a major advancement in quantum algorithms theory with relevance to chemistry and material sciences. However, the result remains theoretical, requiring a suitable quantum machine for practical demonstration.
Japanese joint research group win Prime Minister’s Award with ultra high-performance computing platform using jointly developed 64-qubit quantum computer
A Japanese joint research group has been awarded the Prime Minister’s Award for their development of an ultra high-performance computing platform. This achievement was made possible through the use of a jointly developed 64-qubit quantum computer. The research group, which includes global tech company Fujitsu, has demonstrated significant advancements in the field of quantum computing, a technology that promises to revolutionize various industries. The award underscores the importance of their contribution and the potential impact of quantum computing on future technological developments.
https://www.fujitsu.com/global/about/resources/news/press-releases/2024/0315-01.html
Interesting roundup of last week, even though it certainly was a slow down from the whiplash inducing pace of the prior week.
One point about investments in QC for '23: in my opinion the low investment volume last year was due to the confluence of two factors last year, rising interest rates and AI mania. Elevated interest rates have now been priced in at the markets, since they've been steady for several months now and the AI mania also shows early signs of slowing, with reduced lead times for chips (down to 2 to 3 months from 11), competition muscling into the AI chip market, and the realization that AI costs a ton of money without clear pathways towards profitability as yet (economic value nonwithstanding). That should mean VC funding would return, wouldn't it? Lo and behold, it did. Quantinuum raised jaw dropping 200M, Maybell and Multiverse 25M each, OQC signed Chevron as investor, and those are just the highlights among a myriad of investments in the not yet finished Q1 of '24.
On to China: the withdrawal of both Baydu and Alibaba shouldn't be taken at face value in my opinion, as there's more going on behind the scenes in CCP China. The CCP is exerting increasing control over both the economy and academia on mainland China. Additionally, Alibaba and Baydu had main CCP sponsors from a now waning CCP faction of technocrats of the likes of Hu Jintao, who are struggling immensely to hold onto any shred of power and influence. The labs of these two companies haven't been shuttered after all, they were sold to universities that are under increasingly centralized control. The withdrawal of these companies is not because they couldn't cope with QC, it was a powerplay of intra CCP factional politics.
Thank you for the shout-out regarding my paper!
For your readers who are interested, I wrote an article over at "The Quantum Stack" about the paper: https://travislscholten.substack.com/p/assessing-the-benefits-and-risks