Quantum Computing — Transformative or Just a Buzzword for the Future?
By Lilianne Grace Montehermoso
Quantum Computing. A relatively unknown field, but consisting of qubits and a promising future.
Quantum computing is known as a revolving part of information theory, computer science, and quantum mechanics. Quantum mechanics is the study of subatomic particles and explains how extremely small materials have characteristics similar to particles and waves. As a whole, quantum computing can solve problems beyond the scope of typical and classical computers. In other words, quantum technology serves to solve problems that even supercomputers can’t solve.
The primary difference between classical computers and quantum computers is that quantum computers are composed of quantum bits, better known as “qubits”, rather than regular bits. Qubits store exponentially more information in comparison to normal classical bits.
Despite the idea that “quantum computing” is referred to as a buzzword, quantum technology is truly becoming a critical part of the general computing landscape, as seen through transformation in other fields like cybersecurity. So much so that the Department of Energy’s Office of Science actually supports quantum computer platforms in hopes of improving the state of quantum computing hardware.
With regard to the Department of Energy’s Office of Science’s involvement with quantum mechanics, the US government has spent $625 million to support quantum research with the National Quantum Initiative Act.
Numerous companies have decided to embark on the quantum computing crusade such as Microsoft and Google. First and foremost, Microsoft unveiled its quantum computing programming language, Q#, and has announced several updates like Azure Quantum Elements, which would make the navigation in complex chemistry problems much easier, especially with Copilot. With regards to Google, Google Quantum AI pushes the boundaries of quantum computing as a whole. Google’s efforts are now primarily focused on how quantum computing can be incorporated and involved with machine learning to address the complexities of the world of computer science.
Quantum computing has the potential to advance the performance of general machine learning systems. Since quantum computers have been theoretically proven to be able to solve particular problems faster than your average computer, researchers are trying to identify if quantum computing has machine learning applications. The potential intersection of these promising fields, quantum computing and machine learning, could eventually fuel concentrations concerning drug discovery or fraud detection.
Quantum computing has yet to be fully explored given its ambiguity; however, such a profound field enables many opportunities through its cohesiveness with computing and technology as a whole.
