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type academic work and a simultaneous push from private corporations to
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competitive advantage. We’ve known about the advantages that quantum
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the allure of the technology seems to have just now bitten enterprising
businesspeople from the tiniest of startups to the largest of conglomerates.
“My personal opinion is there’s never been a more exciting time to be in
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serves as a sort of community hub for developers working on quantum
algorithms. Hurley, a software systems analyst who has worked for both Apple
and IBM, says that more than 10,000 developers have signed up to submit their
algorithms and collaborate with others. Among the collaborators—Austin-based
Strangeworks refers to them as “friends and allies”—is Bay Area startup Rigetti
Computing, which supplies one of the three computers that Amazon Web
Services customers can access to test out their quantum algorithms. That
service, called Amazon Braket, made its debut in August and counts
Volkswagen and Fidelity Investments among its customers.
Quantum information tech is so appealing that conglomerates are now carving
out entire research divisions to explore it as a way to stay competitive. The
JPMorgan Chase bank has researchers developing quantum algorithms for
every arm of its business, from encryption and security to options trading.
Photo^ credit:^ Argonne^ National^ LaboratoryDavid Awschalom
(center) discussing
quantum research
with Department
of Energy Under
Secretary for Science
Paul M/ Dabbar
(second from left)