Questions about the Future

We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done.

Alan Turing
218

How will quantum computing evolve over the coming years and decades? It’s critical not to say that quantum computing will do this or that, but rather may. Until someone does this or that, it’s speculation, hype, or a work in progress.

Via a series of motivating questions, I give you a framework to check the progress of the full software, hardware, and systems stack shown in Figure 14.1. These questions also deal with how, where, and when you might start using, teaching, or learning about quantum computing.

The state of the art will be changing rapidly. Returning to these questions and their answers every few months will help you gauge what academia and the industry have done and why it is significant. They will allow you to understand whether quantum is ready for you and if you are ready for quantum.

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Topics covered in this chapter

1. 14.1. Ecosystem and community
2. 14.2. Applications and strategy
3. 14.3. Computing system access
4. 14.4. Software
5. 14.5. Hardware
6. 14.6. Education
7. 14.7. Workforce
8. 14.8. Summary

14.1 Ecosystem and community

“Ecosystem” is an overused and often vague word regarding groups of individuals who have some connection to an activity. I will now try to be more precise in describing the breadth of the quantum computing ecosystem. Quantum Advantage

The goal of the ecosystem is to reach Practical Quantum Advantage, where quantum computing with classical computing can do significantly better than classical computing alone on significant problems for business, science, and government. I do not consider a slight improvement over classical methods true Quantum Advantage. I am also suspicious of announcements of advantages that do not apply to the problems of societal or commercial value.

For the following sections, think about what role or roles you have or want to have in the quantum computing ecosystem, and then answer those questions relevant to you.

What role or roles do you play in the quantum computing ecosystem?

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14.2 Applications and strategy

What do we mean by a “quantum application”? It’s not software where the only computer used is a quantum one. That is not possible today, nor will it be necessary or possible for many decades or even centuries. A quantum application is a hybrid classical-quantum solution that uses both kinds of hardware and software.

Industry use cases, as I touched upon briefly in Chapter 1, “Why Quantum Computing,” will drive the creation of these applications. Over the years, the definition of the use cases will change as we better understand how quantum computing systems can and can’t help us.

Together with those in the other sections, these questions will help you think about use cases for quantum computing and your plan for matching them to quantum solutions:

• Where is your classical computing taking too long or using too many resources?
• Where is your classical computing too...

14.3 Computing system access

“Access” refers to how you connect to a quantum computing system. Connecting via the cloud can give you all the benefits of cloud computing regarding security, elastic resources, and software and hardware upgrades.

You must ensure you have all the access you need to succeed in your quantum computing program, whether for education, experimentation, development, or eventual production deployment.

• Can you get the quantum computing capacity you need through the cloud?
• What are your security requirements for such remote access?
• Do you require a special hosted quantum cloud data center for legislative, national, or military reasons?
• Can you use a remote quantum computer in another country?
• From which countries can you and can you not access quantum computers?
• What are your quality of service requirements for quantum computing, including uptime, prioritization, and...

14.4 Software

If a quantum computer is to be programmable, it must have software, as discussed in section 11.7. More than that, your chosen system must have a complete software stack of runtime facilities and development tools, as shown in the upper portion of Figure 14.1. software stack

Note: this is the same stack shown in Figure 11.23.

Figure 14.1: A quantum software and hardware stack

• Do you prefer working with new, semi-proprietary languages for quantum computing, or would you reuse existing skills in popular languages such as Python instead?
• Does your staff already have software engineering skills in Python?
• Have you surveyed the current development platforms for quantum computing? Does your staff have expertise in Cirq or Qiskit? Cirq Qiskit
• Have you assessed the breadth of functionality and algorithms implemented in the stack’s Quantum Software Libraries and Algorithms...

14.5 Hardware

A quantum computing system needs real quantum computing hardware. While simulators may be helpful for learning, experimenting, and debugging small problems, the sooner you use actual hardware, the quicker you’ll take advantage of its potential. You are not doing quantum computing if you are solely using classical hardware.

• Are you sure your vendor provides access to real quantum hardware, or is it only a simulator?
• Is the quantum hardware general purpose (also known as universal), or is it designed to solve only one kind of problem?
• Can your quantum hardware be used to solve problems significantly better than classical technologies? If not, when will this happen?
• Does the choice of qubit modality make a difference to you?
• What qubit modality produces systems with the best benchmark scores for your intended applications?
• How are the number of high-quality qubits scaling for the technology...

14.6 Education

I split the questions about education for quantum computing and coding between teaching and learning.

Teaching

• Do you currently teach or plan to teach a class involving quantum computing?
• Do you teach a single class on the topic or parts of the subject in different courses?
• Where would you augment the following courses with quantum computing: Artificial Intelligence, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Materials Science, Philosophy, Physics, Pure and Applied Mathematics, and Quantitative Economics and Finance?
• Do you supplement the material with hands-on homework or labs using a software development environment?
• Do your students download the development environment or use it on the cloud through a browser?
• Do you use a textbook, your own material, or both?
• Do you supplement your material with online content, videos, and exercises?
• Are...

14.7 Workforce

You can’t build a quantum computing program without people, and they must have the right skills and education for your part in the ecosystem.

• Does your organization have staff to guide you in your quantum business and technical strategy?
• Is “quantum computing” part of the skills profile for your employees?
• What is your recruiting plan to build quantum expertise in your organization?
• Have you targeted colleges and universities that include quantum computing in their curricula for recruiting?
• Do you attend quantum computing conferences to recruit?
• Do you look for badges showing your employees’ and job applicants’ quantum computing proficiency?
• Will you reimburse employees who take quantum computing classes or training programs?
• Are quantum computing conferences on the list of approved employee expenses, including management?
• What new...

14.8 Summary

In this book’s final chapter, we examined questions that allow you to think about the development of quantum computing and how you can use it. The answers will help you gauge progress in the field. This progress will likely be uneven as temporary scientific and engineering roadblocks are discovered and then bypassed or overcome.