The fastest supercomputers available today are millions of times slower than quantum computers, which have the potential to revolutionize everything from medical research to the way we address climate change problems. Despite billions of investments, the wait for these machines was long.
The uncertainties and poor stock performance of public quantum computing startups like Rigetti Computing Inc haven't deterred investors. While they wait, some are turning to startups transitioning to leveraging powerful CPUs to run quantum mechanics-inspired software on traditional computers.
These firms are creating a new type of software inspired by algorithms used in quantum physics, a branch of research that analyzes the fundamental components of nature, because there are currently no quantum computers that customers can use to gain an advantage over classical computers.
These algorithms, once too complex for standard computers, are finally being used, according to company executives who spoke to Reuters.
Software firm QC Ware, which was once primarily involved in developing software for quantum computers and has raised more than $33 million in funding, claimed that while it awaited the development of quantum machines, it had to change course and focus on providing immediate solutions to its customers.
That's why QC Ware CEO Matt Johnson noted that the company is turning to Nvidia Corp's graphics processing units (GPUs) to "figure out how we can provide them with something that's a big step change in performance… and build a bridge to quantum processing in the future."
Originally designed for rendering video in games, GPUs have become so powerful that they now do most of the AI work. They are also used in quantum development.
A software platform called Promethium developed by QC Ware will be showcased this week. This software will simulate chemical molecules on a conventional computer using GPUs and study how they interact with things like proteins.
According to Robert Parrish, head of quantum chemistry at QC Ware, the program can reduce simulation times from hours to minutes for molecules with 100 atoms, and from months to hours for molecules with 2000 atoms or more.
$1 BILLION AUCTION
The future is the former Alphabet Inc. chief executive Eric Schmidt, asset management T. Rowe Price, Samsung Ventures, and In-Q-Tel, the venture arm of the US intelligence agencies. It is supported by well-known financiers and firms, including
Firms that leverage generosity claim they can make money because consumers are lining up to prepare for the "iPhone" moment of quantum computing. This attracts the attention of investors.
Quantum software businesses, including SandBoxAQ, a subsidiary of Alphabet, have raised nearly $18 billion in the last 1 months, according to data company PitchBook. Because this technology is still in its infancy, these companies will have a hard time convincing some potential customers.
According to SandBoxAQ CEO Jack Hidary, artificial intelligence chips were only able to simulate millions of chemical interactions simultaneously 24 months ago.
He built a Tensor Processing Unit (TPU), a quantum-inspired algorithm for currently profitable biopharma simulation, on Google's artificial intelligence chip. In February, SandBoxAQ reported to Reuters that it had raised $500 million.
In 2017, Entanglement Inc., with the intention of becoming a “quantum-only laboratory”. Jason Turner, who founded his company, was disappointed by the slow progress made in quantum hardware.
"He's been away for ten years, 40 years, right?" said. After some hesitation, he finally gave up and asked Groq, the artificial intelligence chip startup in Silicon Valley, to help him run a quantum-inspired algorithm in cybersecurity.
According to William Hurley, CEO of Austin-based quantum software firm Strangeworks, software inspired by quantum physics will not work properly on quantum computers without some modifications.
Still, Hurley noted that engineers of businesses starting to use quantum computers "will learn about quantum, phenomenon, and process, so they will be better prepared to use quantum computers." He warned that that moment could come suddenly.
With the help of investors like IBM, Strangeworks raised $24 million last month. The company also operates a cloud with more than 60 quantum computers on it.
Source: Reuters.com/technolog
Günceleme: 18/04/2023 14:02