The Daily Qubit

Google's $5mil XPrize and Why Wine & Quantum Computing Go Hand in Hand

Author

Cierra Choucair
March 22, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 13 minutes

March 22, 2024 | Issue 3

Blessed Be the Skeptics, For They Shall Keep Us Grounded

I, like any quantum computing enthusiast, have the capacity to get swept up in the current of quantum startups along with their visions of grandeur for a very near, quantum world. But let’s not forget that a skeptic or two, especially where scientific advancement is concerned, is crucial. Science does require a healthy dash of imagination, but it’s important to keep an eye on the tangible and immediately actionable.

Recently, we’ve seen quantum ventures who rushed to the race start to take a step quietly back as they realized the process of becoming a quantum computing society will be one very long and painful marathon and not at all the sprint they’d prepared for. We seem to have forgotten that even though AI is surely having its day, the work has been in progress since the 1950’s. Quantum computing only became a physicist’s dream in the 1980s when Richard Feynman proposed it as a solution to visualize quantum processes. All this at a time when quantum mechanics itself was still met with raised eyebrows.

As humans, it can be all too easy to let our lesser nature take over and rush to the finish line only to be disappointed and give up because our need for instant gratification isn’t being salved. Time and time again, humanly pursuits such as entrepreneurship and the grand art of wine fermentation have proved to us very simply that “good things take time”. Let this be a guiding principle in our quantum explorations.

So, this edition is a toast to the methodical and the steady. As always, welcome to the frontier of tomorrow. Welcome to The Lab Report.

QUANTUM PULSE

Your Daily Dose of Quantum

In the news:

🌟 Google Quantum AI, XPRIZE, and GESDA have launched a $5 million competition to find quantum computing solutions for real-world challenges. This global contest seeks to bridge the gap between quantum computing's potential and its practical applications in fields like health, sustainability, and energy, marking a significant step towards harnessing quantum technology for societal benefit. In this economy? I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t mind a cool $5mil.

🌟 IonQ teams up with South Carolina Quantum to supercharge the quantum computing scene in South Carolina, aiming to cultivate a new quantum-savvy workforce and spark innovations across various sectors.

🌟 A Japanese consortium wins an award for developing a hybrid-quantum computing platform with scalable cloud architecture, utilizing Japan’s second domestically-made superconducting quantum computer. This innovation, targeting a scale-up to 1,000 qubits, is set to energize sectors such as materials science, finance, and drug discovery.

Research Recap:

💥 Say what? Researchers have compared different methods, combining machine learning and quantum-simulated computing, for identifying pneumonia from chest X-ray images, discovering that hybrid methods combining classical and quantum computing show promising results.

💥 Okay, I’m following: This study evaluates classical, quantum, and hybrid support vector machine approaches for pneumonia detection from X-ray images, focusing on the quadratic unconstrained binary optimization model's efficiency. It finds simulated annealing and the Graver augmented multi-seed algorithm with simulated annealing to perform comparably to the classical support vector machine, outperforming other methods in accuracy.

Whoa. Lots of new words. Let’s break them down. 

Support Vector Machine (SVM): a powerful machine learning algorithm used mostly for classification and regression tasks.

—> Classification: Imagine asking your computer, "Is this picture a cat or a dog?"

—> Regression: Imagine telling your computer, 'Guess how tall this tree will grow based on its age.'

Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO): A framework for optimization problems where you want to find the best solution from all possible binary combinations

Graver Augmented Multi-Seed Algorithm (GAMA): A framework for optimization problems that combines quantum and classical computing to use a set of vectors to explore and improve potential solutions.

Simulated Annealing: The best way to think of this one is to understand where the name comes from. This was inspired from the process of annealing in metallurgy, where metals are heated and then slowly cooled to rid imperfections. This method allows for a controlled search of the best solution by accepting worse solutions and over time reducing the likelihood of accepting worse solutions.

💥 Cool story, but why: Pneumonia requires early detection in order to increase the chances of survival. This research highlights the potential of hybrid quantum-classical computing approaches in improving the accuracy of medical image classification, which is a win for applying quantum computing to real-world health challenges. It’s important to note that the conclusion suggested while quantum computing increased the accuracy of the classification, the time it took to do so was not far improved from classical machine learning.

Note: This is a typical finding in terms of why skeptics are hesitant to say quantum computing is the end all be all. Yes, you might nail the accuracy but if the time it takes to do so is comparable to classical methods of computing (including classical methods leveraging artificial intelligence), it can be a hard sell to recommend quantum computing with all its resource-extensive overhead.

Guddanti, S. S., Padhye, A., Prabhakar, A., & Tayur, S. (2024). Pneumonia detection by binary classification: classical, quantum, and hybrid approaches for support vector machine (SVM). Frontiers in Computer Science, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomp.2023.1286657

💥 Say what? Researchers have developed a quantum computing method to improve the detection of airflow separation on aircraft wings, significantly increasing accuracy compared to traditional methods. This breakthrough could lead to safer and more efficient aircraft designs by better understanding and controlling the flow of air. And we all now how good “safer” air travel sounds right about now.

💥 Okay, I’m following: In a novel application of quantum support vector machines based on quantum annealing (and you’re definitely following because you read the definitions above, right?), researchers have significantly outperformed classical support vector machines in identifying flow separation in aerodynamics, achieving an 11.1% increase in accuracy for binary classification and a 17.9% improvement for multiclass classification of angles of attack.

💥 Cool story, but why: This study not only showcases the potential of quantum computing in fluid dynamics but also sets the stage for its broader application in complex aerodynamic analysis and design. It highlights the potential of quantum computing to provide more accurate and efficient tools for detecting flow separation, a critical factor in aircraft design and safety.

Yuan, X.-J., Chen, Z.-Q., Liu, Y.-D., Xie, Z., Liu, Y.-Z., Jin, X.-M., Wen, X., & Tang, H. (2023). Quantum Support Vector Machines for Aerodynamic Classification. Intelligent Computing, 2, Article 0057. https://doi.org/10.34133/icomputing.0057

💥 Say what? Researchers are exploring how the intersection of biology and quantum physics could lead to breakthroughs in mimicking brain-like functions through quantum computing, offering a deeper insight into how human intelligence works.

💥 Okay, I’m following: This review discusses advances in quantum biology, molecular quantum computing, and quantum cognitive science, suggesting molecular quantum computing as a crucial link between understanding quantum biological processes and the functionality of neuronal cells. It emphasizes the exploration of quantum coherence across different molecular degrees of freedom to model cognitive processes. The integration of these fields could significantly advance our comprehension of quantum mechanisms in biological systems and their implications for cognitive science.

💥 Cool story, but why: This research highlights the potential of molecular quantum computing to act as a pivotal bridge between quantum biology and cognitive science, offering a novel perspective on simulating human intelligence and expanding the capabilities of quantum computing.

Wu, W., Zhu, J., Yao, Y., & Lan, Y. (2024). Can Molecular Quantum Computing Bridge Quantum Biology and Cognitive Science? Intelligent Computing, 3. Article ID: 0072. https://doi.org/10.34133/icomputing.0072

THE QUANTUM MECHANIC’S TOOLBOX

Featured Tool of the Day

🌟 Infleqtion Superstaq 🌟 

TLDR: Superstaq is a software platform designed to significantly improve the execution of quantum programs by customizing them to the specific hardware being used, achieving performance boosts of at least 10 times compared to current compilers.

Unabridged: Superstaq is a cutting-edge quantum software platform developed by Infleqtion, optimizing quantum program execution through deep customization to the specifics of the underlying quantum hardware (aka Bring Your Own Device).

Superstaq achieves unprecedented performance improvements — up to 10 times the performance! This optimization introduces new levels of functionality and performance by leveraging deeper integration between quantum software and hardware. The platform's versatility is demonstrated across multiple hardware types, showcasing its ability to push the boundaries of current quantum computing capabilities and pave the way for more sophisticated quantum applications.

Now available in Beta! Sign up HERE

Supports:

Qiskit & Cirq

Quantum Computers Support:

Includes IBM, IonQ, Oxford Quantum Circuits, Qunatinuum, Rigetti

QUANTUM EVENTS HUB

Your Source to Avoid Quantum FOMO

QUANTUM CAREERS

Shape Your Quantum Journey

Career Opportunities: 

Internships:

Entry-Level:

Mid-Level:

Senior-Level: 

READER’S CORNER 

Today’s Query:

What is “quantum-inspired” computing?

the adaptation of algorithms and methods initially designed for quantum computers to be run on classical computers while drawing inspiration from principles of quantum mechanics, such as superposition and entanglement

Quantum-inspired computing is what happens when a computer dreams it's a quantum computer; it wakes up trying to entangle its wires, only to realize it's still plugged into classical reality.

A Whole New Meaning to Electric Dreams | DALL·E

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