Cloud Access Breaks Down Barriers to Emerging Technologies – Including Quantum Computing (Guest blog from D-Wave)

Author: Trevor Lanting, SVP, Software, Algorithms & Cloud Services in Systems, D-Wave

The growth in cloud-based technologies over the past few decades has created an on-ramp for entities of all sizes to engage with new and emerging technologies – including quantum computing.   

Although cloud computing was first discussed in the 1960s, it wasn’t until the end of the 1990s and the early 2000s when cloud-based technologies and cloud computing became more prevalent. Cloud infrastructure is made up of several components, such as hardware, virtualization, storage, and networking components, each integrated with one another into a single architecture to support business and government operations. Cloud computing is critical for allowing organisations access to this integrated infrastructure, since many do not have their own computational resources onsite.  

Cloud access is having a significant effect on quantum computing’s growing adoption. Governments, developers, start-ups, and enterprises of all sizes can harness quantum’s unparalleled ability to solve problems with quantum computing technologies including quantum annealing and quantum-classical hybrid technologies – without the need for purchasing on-premise hardware or systems. The critical importance of cloud access to quantum computing was made evident by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the height of the pandemic, D-Wave, along with an ecosystem of global partners, offered free cloud-based access to its quantum systems and a community of experts to help support COVID-19 research and initiatives. Through this program, more than 280 researchers, students, experts, and creative minds from more than 20 countries explored solutions around key problems related to the pandemic.  

Today, there are a variety of cloud platforms that provide access to quantum computing technologies, including AWS Marketplace, Amazon Braket, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.  Quantum-focused companies are also providing cloud access to quantum solutions. For example, D-Wave’s LeapTM quantum cloud service has enabled thousands of developers to write and run quantum applications, without having to learn the complex physics that underpins quantum computers.  

Both public and private sectors benefit from cloud based quantum computing applications to address today’s real-world problems. The future of quantum commercialization is via cloud access, as it provides the wide access necessary for enabling the most diverse set of innovators. Real-time access to quantum systems via D-Wave’s Leap quantum cloud service gives companies and governments the ability to develop quantum applications that can solve a variety of important problems, such as more efficient e-commerce delivery for retailers, optimising a cargo pier for large ports, new drug discovery, and waste reduction in manufacturing operations.   

Governments are also supporting quantum cloud access and building applications that address public sector challenges, including sustainability efforts such as reducing carbon emissions through optimised waste collection in Japan, or addressing the need to improve transportation networks in Australia. In the U.S. there have been efforts to tackle electrical grid resilience through cloud-accessible quantum systems, while the E.U. is looking at quantum computing applications for space and satellite efforts. From emergency response to sustainability, there are a wide range of public sector uses of quantum computing technologies built with cloud-based services.   

Since 2011, the influx of public and private clouds has broken down barriers to accessing emerging technologies. Just as the evolution of cloud infrastructure and cloud computing brought together a variety of different technologies to deliver new and innovative tools to businesses and governments, the future of computing will integrate emerging technologies, such as quantum computing, high-performance computing, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and more - all accessible via the cloud. No significant upfront investment is necessary which makes it easy for businesses and government entities to explore and adopt the right mix of these groundbreaking technologies to solve highly complex problems and pave the way for future innovation.  

Authors

Trevor Lanting

SVP, Software, Algorithms & Cloud Services , D-Wave