IBM announces 20-qubit quantum cloud computer for public use

[Shawn Knight]

IBM on Friday announced a significant upgrade for clients using its quantum computing-based cloud services. Thanks to improvements in superconducting qubit design, connectivity and packaging, IBM is upgrading its online machines to 20 qubit processors.

The company said clients will have online access to the new IBM Q systems by the end of the year with a series of upgrades planned for 2018.

The latest advances are the result of three generations of development. If you recall, IBM launched its first quantum computer for cloud users in May 2016. Within just 18 months, the company brought online 5 and 16 qubit systems which clients can use to explore practical applications.

IBM has also built and measured an operational 50 qubit processor. This solution is still in the prototype phase but will be utilized in the next generation of IBM Q systems, we’re told. No word yet on when it'll come online.

It’s not all about qubit count, however, as researchers continue to work to improve the overall quality of qubits, error rates of operations and circuit connectivity. In just a six-month period, for example, IBM was able to extend the coherence times (the amount of time available to perform quantum computations) for the 20 qubit processor to be twice that of the 5 and 16 qubit systems.

The 20 qubit processor has an average coherence time of 90 microseconds.

IBM notes that more than 60,000 users have run over 1.7M quantum experiments and generated over 35 third-party research publications using its cloud-based quantum machines. That may sound like a lot but really, we’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s possible with quantum computers as our understanding of them is still quite rudimentary.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/71832-ibm-announces-20-qubit-quantum-cloud-computer-public.html

 

[VitalyT]

IBM notes that more than 60,000 users have run over 1.7M quantum experiments and generated over 35 third-party research publications using its cloud-based quantum machines.

It would be nice to know what benefit, if any, was achieved from using the quantum computation versus the traditional computing platforms. From what I'e read so far, it is all still hypothetical for the future, but still quite inefficient today, unless the type of calculation is very specific and thoroughly optimized.

 

[OutlawCecil]

I keep saying, we need to build a computer and program it with one goal, build a better computer. Then have that computer programmed with the same goal...etc. Do this a bunch of times and we suddenly have computers we never could have built.

 

[Skjorn]

I keep saying, we need to build a computer and program it with one goal, build a better computer. Then have that computer programmed with the same goal...etc. Do this a bunch of times and we suddenly have computers we never could have built.

There is no cheating. Turn Skipped and difficulty raised.

 

[wiyosaya]

IBM notes that more than 60,000 users have run over 1.7M quantum experiments and generated over 35 third-party research publications using its cloud-based quantum machines.

It would be nice to know what benefit, if any, was achieved from using the quantum computation versus the traditional computing platforms. From what I'e read so far, it is all still hypothetical for the future, but still quite inefficient today, unless the type of calculation is very specific and thoroughly optimized.

Well, somewhere out there the research papers that these companies have published have to exist. If you have a University in your area, typically, the University may allow you to go in there and search for those papers and read them - for free.

 

[TheBigT42]

Can I use it to mine BitCoin?

 

[Vulcanproject]

So have we found out if the cat is alive or dead yet

 

[Vic1248]

I like how IBM is approaching quantum computing, it is more realistic and logical. It would be absolutely fascinating if IBM is the first to market with a commercial quantum computer, a history repeating itself.

 

[Solar Flair]

Lets see if each of us would have a mobile size quantum computer in our hands in 30 years.

 

[JaredTheDragon]

These things are a fraud. First, they aren't "quantum" at all - they still use electrons as their primary switch-flipper, just like transistors. Second, they aren't "quantum" at all even more, because these dullards don't even know what the quanta is they're shooting for and making up "qubits" doesn't forgive their grievous error. They don't even know what electricity or magnetism are, fundamentally, and it shows.

Anyone who likes can easily learn and know that photons are the fundamental quanta of all matter, and that electrons and protons and all larger matter are simply photons with additional stacked spins, which double the radius of the particle each time. It's laughable that these people get paid to fail at physics so massively, when the resources and materials are available for free to anyone who wants them.

 

[JaredTheDragon]

So have we found out if the cat is alive or dead yet

Schrodinger's Cat had nothing to do with the cat being alive or dead, it had to do only with position. Schro-Dawg was mocking Bohr and Heisenberg with his thought-experiment. It's meant to point out the weakness of the Copenhagen Interpretation. It demonstrates that the silly QM probability theory and (for example) "electron clouds" and such, as well as the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, are either false, useless, or both.

It doesn't matter if the cat is alive or dead, it only matters if it's still there.

 

[sac39507]

Can I use it for bitcoin mining?

 

[Uncle Al]

Is this the next generation for their product "Watson" to reside in? I got a chance to see it a few weeks ago and I've got to say, if you ever get a chance to see Watson in action, DO IT! I was impressed the first time I got to see an actual CRAY operate, but the Watson is so impressive I can only hope to live long enough to see it made available to the masses ......... wow, just think if they loaded DOOM on it! wooo hooooooo!!!!

 

[senketsu]

Can it tell us if it will evolve to enslave and dominate humanity or is it not worth their time?

 

[meric]

Some people think that we'll suddenly solve the secrets of the universe once we have a working quantum computer, whereas the reality is that these computers are efficient only for limited types of tasks (at least for now). They have a huge potential in those calculations though, so any advancement is welcome and makes me wishful about the future

 

[Khanonate]

I keep saying, we need to build a computer and program it with one goal, build a better computer. Then have that computer programmed with the same goal...etc. Do this a bunch of times and we suddenly have computers we never could have built.

You're talking about Battlestar Galactica, then the Cylons take over....

 

[Neebsgaming]

Yeah but will it run gta 5 at 8k