Google and Quantum Supremacy

Age of Quantum Computing is approaching!

The world and our lives will no longer be the same, if quantum computing makes the leap that many consider extremely important for humanity. On October 23, Google published a claim in Nature, that they were been able to, using their programmable superconducting Sycamore processor, in 200 seconds, perform a task/calculation that the world’s fastest computer would have taken 10,000 years to complete.

Recently, Cerebras, a US based company, claimedto have come up with the world’s largest computing chip for AI oriented tasks. Huawei also declaredthat their Ascend 910 is the world’s most powerful AI oriented chip in the world. In other words, companies across the globe are advancing ahead building huge computational capacity that they need to perform tasks like unravelling mysteries of the universe, solving problems faced by humanity and answer questions that have escaped human mind sincetime immemorial. 

There are two forms of computation, primarily. One is classical computing that uses bits (binary bit) that can have single binary information stored on it (i.e. either 0 or 1). The other is Quantum Computing (based on quantum mechanics) that uses qubits (quantum bits) that can store information in superposition. In other words, in quantum computing, a qubit could be 0 and 1, at the same time. What does this mean? This means that computing capacity and power increase exponentially because of parallel processing. The tool that is thus created, if put to use, will result in something unprecedented for the mankind. What could it be? The scientists are working on it. However, one thing is certain, the future of AI looks very promising now, with huge implications for human existence.

Paramjeet Singh Berwal

Paramjeet, a lawyer, an invited lecturer, and AI research and policy consultant, is the Director of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Technology Law at Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani University, Georgia. He is a Global Panelist with MIT Technology Review. He is frequently invited to deliver talks and presentations on various topics pertaining to AI. His research includes how AI will influence human existence, especially in the context of economy, work, law, society and its institutions, business management, social behaviour and policy making. He may be contacted at berwallaw@gmail.com

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