How IBM is beating the competition in the quantum computing revolution?

Question

Quantum computing going beyond the labs and into the clouds is nothing new. IBM has already been there.

As per a Morgan Stanley research report, quantum computing potentially holds the key to double-up the high-end computing market from the current $ 5 billion to $ 10 billion per annum. This also explains why more and more companies are accelerating their processes related to quantum computing, in an effort to take it from the labs to the commercial domain.

However, when we look at the race for gaining supremacy in the quantum computing domain, IBM can be seen as a clear winner. This doesn’t come as a surprise as IBM has been really leading the way in tech innovations. Not too long ago, it created the world’s smallest PC as well!

 

 

The tech giant also has a solid presence in manufacturing industry world-over, with products like IBM Sterling OMS (Order Management System) and many more.

 

Let’s learn how IBM is constantly beating the competition in the quantum computing revolution.

Led the first initiative to build quantum computing ecosystem

IBM was the first to develop a global ecosystem for quantum computing. It brought together research companies, academic institutions, big enterprises, scientists’ communities, investors, professors, engineers and start-up founders too. Academic entities that collaborated with IBM in this regard range from University of Melbourne to Oxford University to Oak Ridge National lab.

Bringing enterprises up to speed with quantum computing

In order to enable companies to adopt quantum computing in the quickest manner possible, and put it in the form of a tool in their hands, IBM rolled out IBM Q consulting that helps enterprises in becoming quantum ready and make its best use. The tech giant hired leading industry experts and scientists to provide its clients with customized solutions, to make them quantum ready.

 

Open source quantum computing Software Development Kit

IBM also released an open source quantum computing SDK kit called QISKit, with the intent to advance its systems and technology, encouraging increased penetration of quantum computing in all domains.

Took quantum computing to the cloud

IBM was only the second company after Canada-based D-wave to take quantum computing to cloud. This move came in May 2016 with the idea of making quantum computing easily usable by physicists and researchers who lacked experience in this field. Despite the fact that D-Wave was the first to make that move when it launched its quantum computing services way back in 2010, their machines were capable of running only a restricted number of algorithms.

As against the D-Wave’s quantum computers, the technology brought out by IBM is more general in terms of its capabilities, and is capable of running almost any quantum algorithm. Ever since IBM’s quantum computing made its foray into the cloud, the company’s popularity has risen even higher. Its quantum processor can be accessed through IBM Cloud, and already has 40,000 users from 100 different countries.

Final Word

On the whole, IBM has finally made quantum computing something consumable. It has gradually developed a community of people interested in this field, which is a bold step towards improving the consumption-ability of this technology.