Welcome to the Cloud Wars Minute — your daily cloud news and commentary show. Each episode provides insights and perspectives around the “reimagination machine” that is the cloud.
Register for Acceleration Economy’s Cloud Wars CEO Outlook 2024 Course, now available. Featuring exclusive interviews on strategy, AI, and customers with the CEOs of Cloud Wars Top 10 companies.
In today’s Cloud Wars Minute, guest host Kenny Mullican gives a comprehensive overview of IBM’s recent strides in the field of quantum computing,
Highlights
00:14 — Today I want to delve into the exciting world of quantum computing. IBM recently achieved a quantum leap with its new Condor processor, boasting a staggering 1,121 qubits. However, in a strategic pivot, IBM is now channeling its efforts into the Heron processor, a 133-qubit system.
01:33 — Qubits can be in multiple states simultaneously, allowing quantum computers to handle complex tasks rapidly. However, qubits are quite sensitive, leading to errors. To tackle this, quantum computing uses error correction techniques, requiring more qubits. IBM’s approach with the Heron processor is not just about increasing the number of qubits; it’s about harnessing them effectively.
02:34 — Basically, any complex problem that currently takes massive amounts of classical compute power could benefit from quantum computing. A couple of examples are drug discovery and healthcare, which need to examine molecular structures and interactions, complex financial modeling, cybersecurity, and, of course, one of the hottest topics right now, artificial intelligence (AI).
03:50 — It’s important to recognize we are still in the early stages. Practical, state-scalable quantum computers are still several years away. IBM’s roadmap suggests we could see substantial progress in quantum computing capabilities by as early as 2033. That’s still almost 10 years away.
