Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Google predicts quantum supremacy in 2017

SciAm reports:
Scientists have long dreamed of developing quantum computers, machines that rely on arcane laws of physics to perform tasks far beyond the capability of today’s strongest supercomputers. ...

But to realize those visions, scientists first have to figure out how to actually build a quantum computer that can perform more than the simplest operations. They are now getting closer than ever, with IBM in May announcing its most complex quantum system so far and Google saying it is on track this year to unveil a processor with so-called “quantum supremacy” — capabilities no conventional computer can match. ...

Alan Ho, an engineer in Google’s Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab, told the conference his company expects to achieve quantum supremacy with a 49-qubit chip by the end of this year.
This is not going to happen. Check back on this blog at the end of the year to see if I am wrong.

There has been 25 years of research on quantum computer, and no one has achieved quantum supremacy. Now we have Google, IBM, and others making specific predictions. We will finally see whether they are right or wrong.
Some of those factors can work against one another; adding more qubits, for instance, can increase the rate of errors as information passes down the line from one qubit to another. ...

And increasing the number of qubits, no matter what technology they are used with, makes it harder to connect and manipulate them—because that must be done while keeping them isolated from the rest of the world so they will maintain their quantum states. The more atoms or electrons are grouped together in large numbers, the more the rules of classical physics take over—and the less significant the quantum properties of the individual atoms become to how the whole system behaves. “When you make a quantum system big, it becomes less quantum,” Monroe says.
Yes, there could be technological roadblocks to doing what they want. These problems have not been solved, and may never be solved.
Chow thinks quantum computers will become powerful enough to do at least something beyond the capability of classical computers — possibly a simulation in quantum chemistry — within about five years. Monroe says it is reasonable to expect systems containing a few thousand qubits in a decade or so. To some extent, Monroe says, researchers will not know what they will be able to do with such systems until they figure out how to build them.

Preskill, who is 64, says he thinks he will live long enough to see quantum computers have an impact on society in the way the internet and smartphones have — although he cannot predict exactly what that impact will be.
This is more delusional thinking. A lot of smart ppl have done a lot of good theoretical work on what quantum computer algorithms would be feasible, with a decent number of qubits. The main application will be to destroy the security of internet communications. This impact will be overwhelmingly negative, if quantum computers are feasible.

There are some other possibilities, like simulating chemical reactions. These might have some research interests. It is extremely that these would have commercial utility. It is even more doubtful that there would be any consumer applications.

11 comments:

  1. Quantum Computing is the very definition of "a clickbait hoax."

    http://www.nanalyze.com/app/uploads/2016/10/Quantum-Computing-Quote.jpg

    http://www.nanalyze.com/2016/10/mandela-effect-quantum-computers/ reports:
    "So we’re only 5 minutes into this talk and he has already started talking about parallel universes. The funder of D-Wave is actually saying with a straight face that we can start to exploit parallel universes by reaching into them and pulling out their computing power. Is that maybe the most incredible thing you’ve ever heard?"

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  2. Geordie Rose - D-Wave Quantum Computing, Parallel Universes & Three Predictions

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlRVMNVXm3Q

    "Geordie Rose, Founder of D-Wave tells us about quantum computing and how he thinks we will be able to exploit parallel universes to solve problems that we can't do otherwise. Plus he has three predictions."

    LOL!!! :)





    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH4BH231d2Y

    "Quantum Computers and Parallel Universes" :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Much of the interest in quantum computers stems from a 1985 John Deutsch paper on the universal quantum computer. He has been very much a believer that quantum supremacy will work by moving computations to parallel universes. A true quantum computer would prove the many-worlds theory, he says.

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    Replies
    1. There is absolutely no evidence of any universe beyond our own.

      So what right do they have to claim their machine will work in the "many-worlds" or "parallel universes" there is no evidence for?

      Delete
  4. Deutsch would say that when they build a quantum computer (I mean a real one, with quantum supremacy), then that would be proof of the parallel universes. Where else would the mysterious computation be taking place, he asks.

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    Replies
    1. So basically the D-wave is a test of the multiverse. :)

      lol :)

      Does Aaronson actually think it will ever work?

      Delete
  5. What is the purpose of all of the hype? To sell magazines or to make their companies look good for investors?

    And how will they spin it when they are unsuccessful?

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  6. Google has killed a bunch of failed projects already. As long as its ad system is pulling in $100B or whatever it is, I doubt that the management is worried.

    The D-Wave box is not a universal quantum computer, so I don't know if Deutsch would recognize it as proof of anything.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Speaking of hype, what is your take on this, Roger?

      (Would make a great blog post here! Google "ligo noise" in the news.)

      https://www.quantamagazine.org/strange-noise-in-gravitational-wave-data-sparks-debate-20170630/

      "Strange Noise in Gravitational-Wave Data Sparks Debate"

      The most remarkable quote in the article was this:

      "“The only persons qualified to analyze this paper are in the LIGO Scientific Collaboration,” said Robert Wagoner, a theoretical physicist at Stanford University who is not affiliated with LIGO. “They are the only ones who have had access to the raw data.” Steinn SigurĂ°sson, an astrophysicist at Pennsylvania State University who is also not affiliated with either team, agrees. “For now, I’d definitely go with the LIGO people,” he said. “It is very rare for outsiders to find major errors in a large collaboration.”"

      Well, why don't they share all that they did?

      Is not that the true spirit of science?

      Why keep things secret? Do not other bright folks deserve to see how the sausage is made?

      More here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4662434/Controversy-gravitational-wave-discovery.html

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    2. Here's another excellent article, even though I think it gives LIGO a bit too much "benefit of the doubt."

      https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2017/06/28/how-uncertain-are-ligos-first-gravitational-wave-detections/#730ee6a81852

      Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. LIGO has not provided this.

      Delete
    3. Interesting: https://ligoskeptic.wordpress.com/2017/07/06/ligo-noise-yes-it-was-all-just-noise-how-the-ligo-team-is-foundationally-dishonest-just-like-bicep2-the-multiverse-maniacs-and-string-theorists-lol-ligo-ligo-provides-the-public-intentionally/

      "When the Danish group found that the same noise was found in both detectors, thusly completely undermining the whole reason for there being two detectors in the first place, the LIGO team defended their fakey finding by stating that the tutorials they share with the public regarding how to analyze the data are WRONG:

      A major shortcoming of the Danish group’s analysis that they pointed out to me is that the Danes use methods based on tutorials from the LIGO Website, but these methods do not reach the quality standard of the – more intricate – data analysis that was used to obtain the published results.

      https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2017/06/16/was-it-all-just-noise-independent-analysis-casts-doubt-on-ligos-detections/#12bffdc15516

      LOL LIGO! Why not provide the public with tutorials that aren’t wrong?"

      LOL indeed!

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