University of Kwazulu-Natal

Tech Giants Race For Quantum Computing Dominance

Bonisiwe Shabane
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tech giants race for quantum computing dominance

Quantum computing is ushering in a new era of computational power, with the potential to solve complex problems far beyond the capabilities of classical computers. Unlike traditional systems that use bits, quantum computers leverage qubits, enabling them to process vast amounts of information simultaneously. This technology promises breakthroughs in fields ranging from drug discovery to financial modeling and cryptography. To understand the future of this technology, exploring the future of artificial intelligence is essential, as it will play a significant role in shaping quantum advancements. Several technology leaders are vying for supremacy in the quantum arena, each with distinct approaches and milestones: IBM: Known for its IBM Quantum System One, the company has made significant progress in quantum volume, a metric that measures the overall capability of a quantum computer.

IBM’s cloud-based quantum platform allows developers worldwide to experiment with quantum algorithms. Google: In 2019, Google claimed to have achieved quantum supremacy with its 53-qubit Sycamore processor, completing a specific task in 200 seconds that would take a classical supercomputer approximately 10,000 years. Microsoft: Through its Azure Quantum initiative, Microsoft is pursuing a unique path with topological qubits, which could potentially offer more stable quantum operations. The company is also developing a full-stack quantum ecosystem, including software tools and frameworks. Half a century ago, a factory in Poughkeepsie, New York, cranked out computer hardware. The profits from mainframes financed pampered employees, scientific research and a dividend that made International Business Machines the most valuable company on the planet.

Now, a diminished IBM gets most of its revenue from soft things: computer programs and business services. But it’s at work on a new kind of machine that could return Poughkeepsie to its glory days. This is where it will assemble quantum computers, the magical devices designed to tackle mathematical challenges that would overwhelm an ordinary computer. If quantum delivers on its promises, engineers will use it to make giant strides in the design of drugs, vaccines, batteries and chemicals. Last year Boston Consulting Group predicted that come 2040, quantum hardware and software providers will be taking in $90 billion to $170 billion of annual revenue. IBM has been part of this rapidly evolving technology since the turn of the century.

Leading its effort: Jay Gambetta, a 46-year-old physicist from Australia who oversees 3,000 employees on six continents doing research. He will not stint quantum, since he has spent his entire career in that field. Gambetta joined IBM’s Watson Research Center, 39 miles south of the Poughkeepsie factory, in 2011 after postdoc years at Yale and then on the faculty at the University of Waterloo. He says, “While I like teaching, really I wanted to build.” Quantum computing promises to revolutionize industries by solving unsolvable problems for classical computers. The potential business applications—from pharmaceutical discoveries to financial modeling—have captured the imagination and ambition of global technology giants.

Companies like IBM, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Intel compete vigorously to achieve notable breakthroughs. Their efforts highlight a new era where computational prowess could reshape economic and scientific landscapes. Quantum computers harness quantum mechanical phenomena like superposition and entanglement to process information. Unlike classical bits, quantum bits (qubits) can represent 0 and 1 simultaneously. This property enables exponential increases in processing power for specific tasks. As a result, complex simulations and cryptographic algorithms can be performed much faster than possible.

Many believe this technology is key to solving climate modeling, materials simulation, and logistics optimization. These capabilities have not gone unnoticed by major tech companies. IBM has established itself as a central player in quantum computing innovation. Its IBM Quantum project has set ambitious milestones for increasing qubit counts and coherence times—the company’s public roadmap details annual improvements in hardware and software integration. Key milestones include the unveiling of the IBM Eagle and IBM Osprey quantum processors, each boasting significant increases in qubit capacity. IBM actively cultivates an ecosystem by offering cloud-based access to its quantum processors.

This approach allows universities, enterprises, and researchers worldwide to experiment and develop quantum algorithms. Through partnerships with governments and academic institutions, IBM hopes to accelerate the discovery of practical applications. Their long-existing expertise in mainframe and server technology gives them an advantageous foundation. In October 2019, Google declared it achieved “quantum supremacy” by performing a calculation that would be virtually impossible for classical supercomputers. The experiment used their 53-qubit Sycamore processor to sample the output of a complex quantum circuit in just a few minutes. Google claimed that a top supercomputer would have required thousands of years to replicate the same result.

IBM follows a clear roadmap aiming for 100,000 qubits and fosters an open-access quantum development ecosystem. Google focuses on bold breakthroughs and practical algorithms while pursuing a million-qubit fault-tolerant quantum computer. Startups like IonQ and PsiQuantum innovate rapidly with alternative architectures to tackle quantum computing’s biggest challenges. Quantum computing, once confined to academic whiteboards in science fiction, has now become a central focus in technological race. Leading this charge are three powerful forces: IBM, Google, and a fast-growing wave of startups. It's not solely an issue of attaining scientific milestones anymore; it's also about exploring new frontiers in computing and establishing technological superiority.

Quantum physics advances can only get you so far; your success will depend on shrewd tactical foresight and closely coordinated action. With the U.S. and China each boasting new breakthroughs, the real-world application of quantum computing is moving closer – with major implications for national security. The year 2024 ended with a new frontier in the global tech race of quantum supremacy. The United States and China each announced ground-breaking advancements in quantum computing with the development of Willow and Tianyan-504, respectively. As these tech rivals push the boundaries of quantum computing, the critical question arises: what new possibilities will this unlock for real-world-applications of quantum computing, and what will national security look like in the...

In computing, speed is a critical benchmark that determines computational power. Currently, the fastest classical supercomputer processes and stores information using binary bits (0 or 1). In contrast, quantum computers are based on qubits that can exist in a superposition of states – and can be 1 or 0 at the same time. This property enables quantum computers to run multidimensional quantum algorithms, accelerating their speed and defining their computational superiority over classical computers. However, the dilemma of quantum computing is that by increasing the number of qubits for computational power there is also a corresponding rise in errors. The makers of the Willow chip, produced by Google, claim that they have reduced the error rate with an increase in qubits, thus addressing the quantum computing dilemma.

Willow has demonstrated its superiority in random computer sampling (RCS), a test designed to prove that a quantum computer can perform computations better than any advanced classical computer. In this test, Willow surpassed the world’s fastest supercomputers by a jaw-dropping extent: according to its creators, Willow “performed a standard benchmark computation in under five minutes that would take one of today’s fastest... Meanwhile, China Telecom Quantum Group (CTQG), the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Center for Excellence in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, and QuantumCTek Co., Ltd. jointly reached their own breakthrough with the Tianyan-504. China’s superconducting quantum computer has set a new domestic record by surpassing the 500 qubits threshold. Additionally, it “matches international standards in key performance metrics such as qubit lifetime and readout fidelity,” a yardstick to measure the reliability of a quantum system to read out the information stored in a...

Tech Giants’ Race to Develop Quantum Computing Supremacy In a high-stakes technological competition, industry leaders Amazon, Google, IBM, and Microsoft are vying to create the first commercially viable quantum computer. Each company has recently unveiled prototype quantum chips, showcasing diverse approaches and potential applications in this rapidly evolving field. Quantum computing, which utilizes qubits instead of classical bits, promises to revolutionize complex calculations. However, the instability of qubits and the need for specific conditions to minimize errors present significant challenges. Microsoft has introduced the Majorana 1 chip, powered by topological qubits designed for enhanced stability and reduced error rates.

This approach aims to accelerate the development of large-scale quantum computers, though experts consider it a niche strategy that is difficult to assess. Google’s Willow chip, utilizing superconducting qubits, claims to solve problems in minutes that would take classical computers septillion years. The company reports a breakthrough in reducing error rates as more qubits are added, though these theoretical advancements still require practical validation.

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