IBM has announced an initiative to build commercially available “IBM Q” universal quantum computing systems.
Quantum computing is set to tackle problems that traditional computers are unable to take on, such as when data patterns are invisible, and the scale of an exploration task is insurmountable.
Alongside this main announcement, IBM have also announced a new application program interface (API), and upgraded simulator for the IBM Quantum Experience.
The API will give developers and programmers the ability to test and build interfaces between cloud-based quantum computers and classical computers, without extensive background knowledge.
Read more: What is quantum computing?
The IBM Quantum Experience grants the ability to connect to the quantum processor to everyone, and it works via the IBM Cloud. This will allow the user to conduct experiments and run algorithms to ascertain the potential of quantum computing
Arvind Krishna, SVP of Hybrid Cloud and director for IBM Research said: “IBM has invested over decades to growing the field of quantum computing and we are committed to expanding access to quantum systems and their powerful capabilities for the science and business communities the IBM Cloud platform, and promises to be the next major technology that has.”
“Following Watson and blockchain, we believe that quantum computing will provide the next powerful set of services delivered via the potential to drive a new era of innovation across industries.”
Tom Rosamilia, senior vice president of IBM Systems said: “Classical computers are extraordinarily powerful and will continue to advance and underpin everything we do in business and society. But there are many problems that will never be penetrated by a classical computer. To create knowledge from much greater depths of complexity, we need a quantum computer”.
“We envision IBM Q systems working in concert with our portfolio of classical high-performance systems to address problems that are currently unsolvable, but hold tremendous untapped value”.
