$\require{cancel} \newcommand{\Ket}[1]{\left|{#1}\right\rangle} \newcommand{\Bra}[1]{\left\langle{#1}\right|} \newcommand{\Braket}[1]{\left\langle{#1}\right\rangle} \newcommand{\Rsr}[1]{\frac{1}{\sqrt{#1}}} \newcommand{\RSR}[1]{1/\sqrt{#1}} \newcommand{\Verti}{\rvert} \newcommand{\HAT}[1]{\hat{\,#1~}} \DeclareMathOperator{\Tr}{Tr}$

Quantum Computing Commercialization

^{First created in January 2020}

• Quantum Computing in the current business context:

  • Quantum computers are not to replace classical computers (in the sense of automobiles replacing horses).

  • Quantum computers can solve some special problems that no classical computers can solve without taking prohibitively long time, especially at large scale. Such possibility is called quantum supremacy.

  • To commercialize the quantum computing technology is to identify quantum supremacy in the business context, and to develop a quantum solution to achieve business outcomes.

  • A quantum solution would involve both quantum computers and classical computers in a hybrid model.

• Strategies towards quantum computing commercialization:

  • Low-hanging-fruit showcase solutions to bring about public awareness and commercial interests.

  • High-level abstraction models with which developers can visualize and think. (This is similar to classical high-level languages. Thinking in terms of logic gates cannot get one too far).

  • Easy access and low-cost quantum computing cloud platforms for the public of various technical levels to experiment and learn. Such infrastructure will democratize the quantum technology and allow start-ups to disrupt various industries, like they did with classical technology before.

  • Executive buy-in, given proven use cases and commercial benefits, and the availability of quantum computing infrastructure. It would be more effective starting in areas with existing pain points which classical computing is incapable to help.

• Quantum computing as a multi-disciplinary effort:

  • The quantum technology frees up technologists' mental block in areas previously impractical with classical computing. With the new mindset, these technologists can team up to deliver commercial results.

  • Domain experts identify areas requiring extreme supercomputing power. The deliverable is a problem statement which has no known classical computing solution within practical time.

  • Quantum solutionists explore how quantum computing can provide a speed-up. The deliverable is a solution design which provides required functionalities and mathematical proof of a speed-up.

  • Quantum developers build the quantum solution in joint effort: PoC, building, testing, and deploying. The deliverable is a suitable system which works reliably and running significantly faster than on a classical computer if at all practical.

• Quantum technology stack on the cloud:

  • Quantum computer hardware is not yet portable and therefore the cloud model is ideal in providing commercial quantum computing services.

  • The conceptual framework of a quantum computing architecture should start from serverless, preferably in containers not visible to users. i.e. more like Lambda than ECS.

  • Interfaces between Quantum Computers and Classical Computers need to be seamless and transparent.

  • Abstraction of quantum computing functionalities, in the form of libraries, SDK, CLI, or system calls, is critical for productivity.

• Quantum application potentials:

  • Algorithms requiring exponential time in classical computing: Finance, marketing, logistics, ...

  • STEM-heavy industries (physical simulation): pharmaceutical, material, manufacturing, energy, defence, aerospace, ...

  • Data science: large scale analysis/search/storage, big data, AI, ML, optimization, ...

  • Secure communications: protections relying on factorization (Shor's) and searching (Grover's).