And speaking of chips, our third point is that the future of quantum computing depends on improvement of the chips. There are already some heady advances claimed by chip startups, but the hype is going to outrun the reality for some time. Eventually, quantum computing will be, like digital computing, more software-driven, but right now it’s the hardware, meaning the chips, that hold it back. If you want to watch a space for quantum progress, watch chips.
Finally, quantum computing and AI may be the winning combination. Besides creating what might be the mother of all hype waves, to the delight of hedge funds, there’s actually a reason to think about this one. Quantum applications in the real world are already being explored, and analog computers have proven to have value in AI, so if quantum computers have similarities they might fit in too. Image analysis, and in particular video analysis, is an application that many think could combine the two technologies effectively. Anyway, intelligence in general arguably needs speed more than precision; look at humans if you need proof of that.
So, is quantum computing a wonderful emerging business tool, or is it just a fable? Remember “superposition” is one of its foundations, so it’s fitting to say that right now, it’s both. Is it going to get real, at some point? There’s another quantum physics principle that applies here, the “Uncertainty Principle.” I’m uncertain about the value of quantum computing, and so is everyone else today, really. But I do know it’s got potential, and that it’s worth watching.
