Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize modern life. Leveraging qubits, quantum superposition and entanglement, we can solve problems which were once thought impossible. However, its instability keeps quantum computing experimental. Quantum is here and it will drive the future.
How does Quantum Computing compare to High Performance Computing (HPC)?
Quantum computing differs from classical and HPC in the underlying technology. Both can be seen as calculators, with a central processing unit (CPU) at the core, where calculations take place with results stored in hardware (cache, RAM, and memory). HPCs rely on parallel processing, high-quality components, and optimized architecture, while quantum computers utilize the quantum properties of atoms through quantum superposition and entanglement. Instead of classical bits, quantum computers use qubits, allowing for multiple values to be represented simultaneously, offering the potential for calculation time reduction for certain problems. However, quantum computers are still in development and not necessarily faster than HPCs.
Where can quantum computing take us?
Quantum computing transforming pharmaceuticals
Investments in drug discovery and development can be significant, from the initial discovery to testing and bringing pharmaceuticals to market. Not only is the financial investment steep, the time required to develop these treatments incurs a cost. Rare diseases are often ignored by companies due to this, which are often higher, given their incidence. Quantum computing can alleviate this by creating an “identical twin” to run simulations with several drugs and identify the most effective treatments. This reduces both the research costs and the time taken to bring these therapies to market.
Quantum Data
Database searching is a critical business function for organizations to succeed. However, this process can sometimes take time. The bigger the database, the faster the search of an element with quantum computing compared to classic computers, making it ideal for handling large amounts of data. Consider a bank with a dataset of 100 billion transactions, with a good microprocessor, it can take up to 20 minutes to retrieve an element, compared to 4 milliseconds using a quantum computer. With quantum computing enhancements, the next generation of databases will be revolutionary.
Quantum Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science
Considerable volumes of data are produced daily, and quantum computers are able to complete calculations in seconds. They can be used to transform data to train machine learning models, which can be leveraged for more sophisticated AI use cases. While this can already be done conventionally, quantum computers allow for quicker calculation speeds for certain scenarios and algorithms, and this can also provide novel insights which may not have been accessible previously.
Both supercomputing and quantum computing are creating transformative changes. On 8 February 2023, Deloitte Luxembourg hosted a series of speeches showcasing the business implications of quantum and insights on future use-cases of quantum computing, including how it compares to HPC.
Quantum is now. Are you ready to start your journey?
