When Quantum Computing Meets Cloud Computing

Tech companies are streamlining quantum computing service through cloud platforms

Quantum computing is still in the early days of its improvement and implementation. Even though it is emerging as an unstoppable concept, the commercialization of quantum computers is considerably small. However, moving forward into the future, tech giants are trying their hands to streamline quantum advantages with the help of cloud computing services. This has opened the door to cloud-based quantum computing.

Quantum computers represent the future technology at its best. They are seen as devices that use the quantum mechanical superposition principle to process information. Quantum computers are being developed, built, and studied in the organization ranging from universities and laboratories. Large tech players like Google, IBM, Intel, and Microsoft are also giving their best to come up with a supercomputer that could solve complex problems. Developers use quantum to encode problems as qubits, which compute multiple combinations of variables at once rather than exploring each possibility discretely. Fortunately, the next-generation quantum computers are anticipated to harness the weird physics of the subatomic world to complete computations far faster than classical computers, and those processing power promises to revolutionize every industry. On the other hand, cloud computing is gaining its pace in the tech market. A lot of business services are now shared through cloud sources. The emerging trend is a blend of both technologies coming out as cloud-based quantum computing. Cloud-based quantum computing provides direct access to emulators, simulators, and quantum processors. One of the biggest advantages of availing quantum services in the cloud is that it allows access to quantum physical-powered computers via the web.

The basics of cloud-based quantum computing

Cloud-based quantum computing facilitates companies and researchers to test their quantum algorithms. Initially, quantum algorithms are developed using classical computers and then the algorithm is tested in real quantum computers through cloud computing. It offers an immediate interface of quantum algorithms and provides how that allows individuals to create enhancements in quantum.

Unfortunately, not everybody can afford to develop a quantum computer since the basics like quantum circuits and support systems are expensive and difficult to process. But tech players who have successfully created cloud-based quantum computing are offering the service to others through cloud platforms.

While cloud-based quantum computing is so far seen in the technical form, it is hitting commercial markets in recent years. Researchers had a hard time innovating quantum computers that perform extraordinary actions. Fortunately, in the past couple of years, quantum has enjoyed a sudden surge in fanfare. Google emerged as the company that has achieved 'quantum supremacy.' The idea of cloud-based quantum computing is to upload quantum software and run it just as easily as people can deploy any other type of cloud computing service. But the extent to which quantum will allow this is quite limited for now.

IBM was the first company to connect a small quantum computer to cloud computing in 2016, availing the facility for users to create and run small programs on a quantum computer online. Ever since IBM explained the concept of cloud-based quantum computing, other tech giants also wanted to give it a try. This has led tech conglomerates like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft to follow IBM's suit. In 2019, Microsoft unraveled a service called 'Azure Quantum,' which allows access to quantum algorithms, hardware, and software.

Important cloud-based quantum computing providers

Baidu: China's Baidu Inc. has recently announced a new cloud-based quantum computing platform called quantum leaf that the company claims to have designed for programming, simulating, and executing quantum workloads. Quantum leaf is a programming environment in the cloud that provides quantum-infrastructure-as-a-service. Based on the already launched PaddlePaddle AI framework, Paddle Quantum enables developers and scientists to build and train quantum neural network models quickly for advanced quantum applications.

Amazon: In 2019, Amazon announced its launch of cloud-based quantum computing solution called Bracket. Bracket combines quantum with the cloud computing service and makes it an as-a-service solution. Amazon has also set up a physical lab called Amazon Quantum Solutions Labs specifically focused on cloud-based quantum computing and its improvements.

Others: D-Wave is performing well with quantum annealer well-suited for many optimization problems. Other alternatives include QuTech, which is working on a cloud offering of its small quantum machine utilizing its spin qubits technology. Xanadu is developing a quantum machine based on photonic technology.