Quantum Technology Roadmap Outlined by Industry Leader: Paving the Way for Commercial Profitability
In the rapidly evolving landscape of quantum computing, significant strides have been made in recent times, with major tech companies and startups leading the charge.
Atom Computing, in partnership with Microsoft, has set a new record by creating 24 entangled logical qubits using Atom's neutral-atom hardware. This milestone marks a significant leap forward in the quest for larger quantum systems. Atom Computing is also developing a commercial quantum computer with over 1,000 physical qubits.
Meanwhile, PsiQuantum's Omega chipset, a manufacturable photonic quantum computing platform designed for utility-scale systems, is being produced in partnership with GlobalFoundries. This chipset integrates high-performance photonic components and is part of PsiQuantum's goal to build million-qubit-scale quantum computers.
Error correction is a critical aspect of quantum computing, as qubits are extremely susceptible to errors from decoherence and operational noise. Recent advancements focus on developing more efficient and hardware-friendly schemes that reduce overhead and improve fault tolerance. Notable techniques include the "unfolded code," which optimizes magic state preparation—a resource-intensive process vital for universal fault-tolerant quantum gates. This method exploits noise bias in cat qubits to significantly reduce physical qubit requirements and speed up operation compared to previous approaches.
Improvements in qubit coherence, such as the recent demonstration of millisecond-scale coherence times in transmon qubits, also extend the window for error-free operations and reduce the frequency and resources needed for error correction cycles.
Microsoft is also working on topological qubits, another advancement in error correction techniques. IBM's qLDPC codes are another essential advancement in this field.
As the quantum computing industry matures, scalability will be key. QuEra is pursuing a hybrid analog-digital approach to quantum computing, aiming for systems with up to 10,000 physical qubits and 100 logical qubits in the near future. The scalability of qubit architectures, through modular designs or novel qubit types, will determine the feasibility of large-scale quantum computers.
Google's Quantum AI division recently introduced the Willow chip, a 105-qubit superconducting processor, as part of their six-step roadmap to build a large-scale, error-corrected quantum computer. QuEra's Aquila is a 256-qubit neutral-atom quantum computer available through Amazon.
IBM aims to develop a large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2029. The Starling system, with 20,000 times the computing power of standard quantum computers, is projected to be completed before the end of this decade.
These advancements collectively address the fundamental challenge of mitigating quantum errors, paving the way for scalable fault-tolerant quantum computing. Developing hybrid quantum-classical computing models, as demonstrated by Quantinuum's Reimei, will be crucial for leveraging quantum advantages in real-world applications.
The U.S. National Quantum Initiative (NQI) provides a coordinated federal framework to bolster quantum research and development in the United States. John Prisco, the CEO and founder of Safe Quantum Inc., a company focused on developing and deploying quantum-safe technologies for data-driven companies, has been closely watching the development of the quantum computing industry. This article discusses trends shaping the future of quantum, with a focus on advancements by major tech companies and startups in the field.
The Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs, and technology executives.
John Prisco, the CEO and founder of Safe Quantum Inc., has been closely following the advancements in the quantum computing industry, particularly those made by major tech companies and startups. He is keen on the integration of data-and-cloud-computing and artificial-intelligence with this technology, understanding its potential implications for data-driven companies. Meanwhile, the Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only community for technology executives, continues to facilitate discussions on the latest trends in quantum computing.
