{"id":10674,"date":"2022-03-22T22:37:40","date_gmt":"2022-03-22T22:37:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/TheNextWeb=1383033"},"modified":"2022-03-22T22:37:40","modified_gmt":"2022-03-22T22:37:40","slug":"microsoft-looks-poised-to-dominate-the-quantum-computing-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/?p=10674","title":{"rendered":"Microsoft looks poised to dominate the quantum computing industry"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Microsoft Azure recently announced that its quantum computing research teams had invented \u201ca new kind of qubit\u201d based on elusive, never-before-demonstrated properties of physics. According to the Redmond company, this will allow it to build scalable quantum computers capable of solving the hardest problems facing humanity.<\/p>\n<p>So, is this a breakthrough for the field or just an attempt to lean in to the marketing zeitgeist surrounding quantum computing?<\/p>\n<p>To sort out the answer, we\u2019ll need to take a look at Microsoft\u2019s quantum computing department, its history, and what it\u2019s actually trying to accomplish.<\/p>\n<h2>A full stack solution<\/h2>\n<p>Microsoft\u2019s probably not the first name that comes to mind when you think about the quantum computing industry. Google had its monumental <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/google-may-have-achieved-breakthrough-time-crystals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">time crystals breakthrough<\/a> last year, IBM was the first big tech entity to develop consumer-facing quantum computing systems and it\u2019s currently engaged in <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/ibm-achieves-true-quantum-supremacy-with-most-powerful-computer-ever-built\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">a tit-for-tat with Google<\/a>, and D-Wave, a quantum company that <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/analysis-d-wave-going-public-huge-quantum-computing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">recently went public<\/a>, has been building quantum computers for over 20 years.<\/p>\n<p>In order to carve its own lane, Microsoft\u2019s chosen to pursue a different path than all of its competitors. The \u201cnew kind of qubit\u201d the Azure team says its developed is called a topological qubit and, as far as we know, its never been demonstrated before.<\/p>\n<p>According to a company <a href=\"https:\/\/news.microsoft.com\/innovation-stories\/azure-quantum-majorana-topological-qubit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">blog post<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"10\">\n<p>Microsoft\u2019s approach has been to pursue a topological qubit that has built-in protection from environmental noise, which means it should take far fewer qubits to perform useful computation and correct errors. Topological qubits should also be able to process information quickly, and one can fit more than a million on a wafer that\u2019s smaller than the security chip on a credit card.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The team responsible for the breakthrough says topological qubits represent the fastest path to industrial-sized quantum computers.<\/p>\n<p>What this tells us, is that Microsoft\u2019s clearly eyeing the quantum computing market and envisioning itself as the global leader.<\/p>\n<p>While Microsoft certainly isn\u2019t a newcomer to the quantum computing industry, it currently only offers limited quantum services to select Azure partners. Prior to the topological qubit breakthrough, its quantum ambitions were a bit fuzzy in the crystal ball.<\/p>\n<p>But, now, it\u2019s clear that Microsoft intends to develop a full stack quantum computing solution featuring a gate-based system harnessing one million qubits.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<p> <iframe srcdoc=\"\n\n<style>*{padding:0;margin:0;overflow:hidden}html,body{background:#000;height:100%}img{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;transition:opacity .1s cubic-bezier(0.4,0,1,1)}a:hover img+img{opacity:1!important}<\/style>\n<p><a href='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vN4UD-cJa8k?feature=oembed&amp;autoplay=1&amp;mute=1&amp;modestbranding=1&amp;iv_load_policy=3&amp;theme=light&amp;playsinline=1'><img src='https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/vN4UD-cJa8k\/hqdefault.jpg'><img src='https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/themes\/cyberdelia\/assets\/img\/ytplaybtn.png' style='top: 50%;left:50%;width:68px;height:48px;transform:translate3d(-50%,-50%,0)'><img src='https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/themes\/cyberdelia\/assets\/img\/ytplaybtn-hover.png' style='top: 50%;left:50%;width:68px;height:48px;opacity:0;transform:translate3d(-50%,-50%,0)'><\/a>&#8221; height=&#8221;240&#8243; width=&#8221;320&#8243; allow=&#8221;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture&#8221; allowfullscreen frameborder=&#8221;0&#8243;>[embedded content]<\/iframe> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p> <!--resp-video-container--><\/p>\n<h2>Quantum ambition<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s impossible to determine what one million topological qubits will be capable of in Microsoft\u2019s future <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/topic\/quantum-computers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">quantum computers<\/a>. The field is too young and just a few months ago the technology the company is using was considered hypothetical.<\/p>\n<p>And the fact that Microsoft is able to go from theoretical research to publishing a blog post outlining a business path for the tech is more of a testament to the speed of business than the state of the research.<\/p>\n<p>However, it\u2019s clear that Microsoft is throwing its full weight behind the technology and there isn\u2019t much room for prognostication when it comes to developing and scaling quantum systems. These systems require hundreds of millions in investments to build and millions to maintain and operate.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a safe bet that Microsoft\u2019s ready to take on all comers if it actually builds hardware capable of scaling one million topological qubits.<\/p>\n<p>As to how long this could take, the team says it\u2019s on \u201cmore of an engineering path\u201d now that the fundamental technology has been demonstrated.<\/p>\n<p>That tells us we\u2019re likely within a decade of seeing Microsoft\u2019s ambition come to fruition.<\/p>\n<h2>But wait there\u2019s more<\/h2>\n<p>However, it\u2019s obvious that Microsoft isn\u2019t interested in waiting around until 2030 or beyond to get down to business. To that end, it\u2019s planning to offer access to a 1,000 qubit processor by the end of 2023.<\/p>\n<p>This, however, won\u2019t be the topological qubit paradigm Azure just invented. Instead, the company formed a partnership with Pasqal, a company who creates hardware to run yet another kind of quantum technology called \u201cneutral atom-based\u201d quantum processing.<\/p>\n<p><figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1383044 aligncenter js-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/pasqal.jpg\" alt=\"An internal view of a quantum computer\" width=\"1280\" height=\"960\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/pasqal.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/pasqal-280x210.jpg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/pasqal-180x135.jpg 180w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/pasqal-360x270.jpg 360w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/pasqal-796x597.jpg 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/pasqal-368x276.jpg 368w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/pasqal-736x552.jpg 736w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/pasqal-1200x900.jpg 1200w\"><figcaption>Credit: Pasqal<\/figcaption><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1383044 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/pasqal.jpg\" alt=\"An internal view of a quantum computer\" width=\"1280\" height=\"960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/pasqal.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/pasqal-280x210.jpg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/pasqal-180x135.jpg 180w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/pasqal-360x270.jpg 360w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/pasqal-796x597.jpg 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/pasqal-368x276.jpg 368w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/pasqal-736x552.jpg 736w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/pasqal-1200x900.jpg 1200w\"><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<p>Per a Microsoft <a href=\"https:\/\/pasqal.io\/2022\/03\/21\/pasqal-quantum-computers-coming-to-azure-quantum\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">press release<\/a>, Dr. Krysta Svore,\u202fDistinguished Engineer, VP Quantum Software of Microsoft, described the partnership as a way to bring quantum technologies to both companies\u2019 clients immediately:<\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"17\">\n<p>Azure Quantum is a unified, open cloud ecosystem for quantum innovation, empowering customers to achieve impact with a diverse selection of quantum hardware, software, and solutions.<\/p>\n<p>Pasqal\u2019s neutral atoms quantum processors are a welcome addition to that ecosystem, providing Azure Quantum users with new computational possibilities, including analog quantum computation, opening up new avenues for pursuing real-world quantum impacts.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The partnership with Pasqal shores up Microsoft\u2019s biggest weakness in the quantum industry by giving it a mid-term solution to fill the gap between 2023 and whenever the future arrives in the form of a massively-scalable quantum computing system.<\/p>\n<h2>Winner takes\u2026 some<\/h2>\n<p>As to whether Google\u2019s time crystals, D-Wave\u2019s new gate-based solutions, IBM\u2019s iterative approach, Microsoft\u2019s new topological qubits, or a dark horse technology will ultimately prevail, that\u2019s anyone\u2019s guess.<\/p>\n<p>But it\u2019s unlikely we\u2019ll end with multiple viable approaches. Eventually it\u2019ll make more sense, financially speaking, for hardware manufacturers to get on the same page. The next ten years should set the stage for the ultimate reckoning.<\/p>\n<p>However, quantum computing is not a zero sum game. Microsoft\u2019s poised to take a dominant share of the greater market but it\u2019s unlikely any one company will end up eclipsing the competition.<\/p>\n<p>Much like the <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/topic\/artificial-intelligence\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">artificial intelligence<\/a> market, quantum computing requires bespoke solutions on a case-by-case basis. IBM, Google, D-Wave, and Microsoft won\u2019t be lining store shelves with all-purpose quantum computers any time soon. They\u2019ll be vying for massive partnerships featuring lucrative, long-term contracts.<\/p>\n<p>Each company will have to rely on its corporate strengths to find their unique path to potential prominence. And for Microsoft, that means connecting partners through its Azure ecosystem and nabbing high-paying government contracts.<\/p>\n<p>From where we\u2019re standing, Microsoft\u2019s apparently caught up to the competition. That doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s guaranteed a victory \u2014 there are no guarantees in theoretical physics \u2014 but it\u2019d be silly to count out the house that Bill Gates built in any technology race.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Neural\u2019s take:<\/strong> The Pasqal partnership puts it in direct competition for the top spot today and Azure\u2019s research teams make it a favorite for the future. We\u2019d give Microsoft the edge over Google and IBM in a marathon due to the Redmond company\u2019s no-drama approach to landing big ticket government projects.<\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/microsoft-looks-poised-dominate-the-quantum-computing-industry\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Microsoft Azure recently announced that its quantum computing research teams had invented \u201ca new kind of qubit\u201d based on elusive, never-before-demonstrated properties of physics. According to the Redmond company, this will allow&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10675,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10674"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10674"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10674\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10675"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10674"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10674"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10674"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}