Analyst Panel Urges Exploration of Quantum Computing
A panel of analysts at the Tabor Communications HPC and AI on Wall Street conference encourages businesses to start exploring quantum computing now.
Quantum Computing Landscape Shows Promising Progress
Despite the complex challenges in quantum computing, significant progress has been made in the past few years. There are already 1000-plus-qubit systems on the horizon, with some expected to be accessible to users soon. The availability of software offerings throughout the quantum stack has also increased, although there is still more to be developed. Furthermore, the number of proof-of-concept explorations has grown across various sectors.
Considering the remarkable advancements and the global competition to achieve practical quantum computing, it is clear that businesses have little choice but to embark on this journey.
Quantum Computing as a Next Evolution in Advanced Computing
The panelist Bob Sorensen, Hyperion Research's chief quantum watcher, highlighted the felicitous timing of quantum's integration into the stagnating field of high-performance computing (HPC). As the performance gains in HPC slow down due to technical limitations, quantum computing provides a new trajectory for accelerating performance. Quantum computing can be seen as another step forward in advanced computing, particularly in tackling complex and advanced workloads in the HPC domain. To start exploring quantum, businesses should focus on their most challenging computational problems.
The low barrier to entry in quantum computing is one of its most appealing aspects. Previously, adopting HPC systems required substantial investment and expertise. In contrast, quantum computing can be accessed through cloud providers such as AWS Braket and Strangeworks at a relatively low cost. This accessibility, combined with the ability to experiment and explore freely, has driven interest in quantum computing.
Quantum Computing Approaching Rapidly
Heather West, IDC's lead quantum analyst, emphasized the rapid progress in quantum computing and the importance of starting to take note of its potential. While cost, system maturity, and relevance to specific problems may still be concerns for some organizations, the quantum era is approaching sooner than expected. While a near-term advantage may take around five to seven years to achieve, the advancements in quantum computing are happening faster than anticipated.
To gain a comprehensive understanding of the panel discussion, it is recommended to watch the full video of the event provided at the link.
