5 ms·

The article appears to be saying that they are offering an actual quantum computer as a service, but as I recall, their previous offering was a simulation of a

by darawk 9y ago

The article appears to be saying that they are offering an actual quantum computer as a service, but as I recall, their previous offering was a simulation of a quantum computing environment. Yet, this same article refers to that thing as if it were a real QC. This makes me skeptical that the thing being offered here is a real quantum computer...Anyone here have any insight into whether this is legitimate?

jameshclark 9y ago
The last news from IBM on HN about their quantum offering was that they had optimised the memory required for simulating quantum computers. 50-qubits seemed to the the upper limit before, but they managed to simulate a 56-qubit circuit. It was a good read: https://arxiv.org/abs/1710.05867 https://arxiv.org/abs/1710.05867 They've had real hardware for a while, though, and they have 5-qubit and 16-qubit machines that anyone can try via IBM Q experience. So this is 100% legit as far as I'm concerned.
- GreenOceanBlue 9y ago
  There is no such thing as a quantum computer in 2017. It is fantasy.
derwiki 9y ago
Nothing specific to whether this claim is legitimate, but lately IBM has a tendency to make bold claims about tech that can't be backed up (e.g. Watson).
- ethbro 9y ago
  Let's be charitable: IBM marketing has that tendency. IBM does still do some amazing research.
andrewflnr 9y ago
Not an expert, but I do find some of the phrasing weird. Early on they talk about improvements to connectivity and packaging, which would seem to only be relevant to real, live, physical quantum computers. There's also the professor talking about having students run programs on real quantum computers, without any qualifiers (that were included here, anyway) about how it's actually a simulation. Later it talks about software tools, including a Jupyter notebook for heaven's sake, without mentioning the vast gulf between that and what they seem to claim at the top of the article. I'm tempted to say that the author of this press release simply doesn't understand the difference.
vtomole 9y ago
Their previous offerings have been 2 physical quantum computers that can be accessed over the cloud. One with 5 qubits, and another with 16 qubits[0]. These computers have had thousands of users who have run millions of quantum algorithms [1]. [0]: https://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/52403.wss https://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/52403.wss [1]:https://www.engadget.com/2017/11/10/ibm-50-qubit-quantum-computer/ https://www.engadget.com/2017/11/10/ibm-50-qubit-quantum-com...
- Xeoncross 9y ago
  Wait, I didn't think we had actual quantum computers yet. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_computing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_computing
  - joe_the_user 9y ago
    From your link: "A small 16-qubit quantum computer exists and is available for hobbyists to experiment with via the IBM quantum experience project."
    - Xeoncross 9y ago
      From the link in that sentence: "The IBM Quantum Experience (QX) enables anyone to ... ... explore tutorials and simulations around what might be possible with quantum computing."
      - joe_the_user 9y ago
        That sentences doesn't say the small 5 and 16 bit computers don't exist. Edit: if you read the whole link, the key description is: "IBM’s quantum processor is made up of superconducting transmon qubits, located in a dilution refrigerator at the IBM Research headquarters at the Thomas J. Watson Research Center. Users interact with the quantum processor through the quantum circuit model of computation, applying quantum gates on the qubits using a GUI called the quantum composer, writing quantum assembly language code[1] or through a Python API.[2]" Which is to say you have both a quantum computer and a simulator in IBM schema (which in the cloud 'cause you can't have supercooled chips in your basement), which is as one would expect running "real" quantum computing is going to be more expensive and uncertain now despite the hope it will give vast speed later.
davidw 9y ago
It's both a real quantum computer and a simulation - at the same time - but you don't know until you observe the results!

by darawk 9y ago

jameshclark 9y ago

The last news from IBM on HN about their quantum offering was that they had optimised the memory required for simulating quantum computers. 50-qubits seemed to the the upper limit before, but they managed to simulate a 56-qubit circuit. It was a good read: https://arxiv.org/abs/1710.05867 https://arxiv.org/abs/1710.05867 They've had real hardware for a while, though, and they have 5-qubit and 16-qubit machines that anyone can try via IBM Q experience. So this is 100% legit as far as I'm concerned.

GreenOceanBlue 9y ago
There is no such thing as a quantum computer in 2017. It is fantasy.

derwiki 9y ago

Nothing specific to whether this claim is legitimate, but lately IBM has a tendency to make bold claims about tech that can't be backed up (e.g. Watson).

ethbro 9y ago
Let's be charitable: IBM marketing has that tendency. IBM does still do some amazing research.

andrewflnr 9y ago

Not an expert, but I do find some of the phrasing weird. Early on they talk about improvements to connectivity and packaging, which would seem to only be relevant to real, live, physical quantum computers. There's also the professor talking about having students run programs on real quantum computers, without any qualifiers (that were included here, anyway) about how it's actually a simulation. Later it talks about software tools, including a Jupyter notebook for heaven's sake, without mentioning the vast gulf between that and what they seem to claim at the top of the article. I'm tempted to say that the author of this press release simply doesn't understand the difference.

vtomole 9y ago

Their previous offerings have been 2 physical quantum computers that can be accessed over the cloud. One with 5 qubits, and another with 16 qubits[0]. These computers have had thousands of users who have run millions of quantum algorithms [1]. [0]: https://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/52403.wss https://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/52403.wss [1]:https://www.engadget.com/2017/11/10/ibm-50-qubit-quantum-computer/ https://www.engadget.com/2017/11/10/ibm-50-qubit-quantum-com...

Xeoncross 9y ago
Wait, I didn't think we had actual quantum computers yet. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_computing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_computing
- joe_the_user 9y ago
  From your link: "A small 16-qubit quantum computer exists and is available for hobbyists to experiment with via the IBM quantum experience project."
  - Xeoncross 9y ago
    From the link in that sentence: "The IBM Quantum Experience (QX) enables anyone to ... ... explore tutorials and simulations around what might be possible with quantum computing."
    - joe_the_user 9y ago
      That sentences doesn't say the small 5 and 16 bit computers don't exist. Edit: if you read the whole link, the key description is: "IBM’s quantum processor is made up of superconducting transmon qubits, located in a dilution refrigerator at the IBM Research headquarters at the Thomas J. Watson Research Center. Users interact with the quantum processor through the quantum circuit model of computation, applying quantum gates on the qubits using a GUI called the quantum composer, writing quantum assembly language code[1] or through a Python API.[2]" Which is to say you have both a quantum computer and a simulator in IBM schema (which in the cloud 'cause you can't have supercooled chips in your basement), which is as one would expect running "real" quantum computing is going to be more expensive and uncertain now despite the hope it will give vast speed later.

davidw 9y ago

It's both a real quantum computer and a simulation - at the same time - but you don't know until you observe the results!