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Microsoft and Quantinuum have announced new technology designed to minimise inaccuracies associated with quantum computing algorithms.

The invention aims to boost the reliability of quantum computing, which is driving many new discoveries in health care, energy, environmental systems, smart materials, artificial intelligence, financial modelling, climate change, pharmaceutical research and cyber security.

Microsoft said the new technology is built on the most reliable logical qubits on record.

Just as a binary bit is the basic unit of information in traditional computing, a qubit is the basic unit of information in quantum computing.

The Redmond-based multinational corporation said it aims to release the new technology to its cloud computing customers in the coming months.

Quantum computing represents a massive acceleration in computing speed and performance.

Here The National looks at the intricacies of the new technology and explores its development and potential uses.

While developing the new technology, the research team used Microsofts qubit-virtualisation system and Quantinuums hardware. They performed more than 14,000 individual experiments without a single error, the companies said in a statement.

The new breakthrough also permitted the team to verify the reliable qubits and amend any errors they encountered without destroying them.

Microsoft said the new innovation has advanced quantum computing beyond the traditionally dubbed Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) level to a more resilient and error-free stage.

It was called noisy: because even a minor change in the environment can significantly increase the randomness within the system.

This is a crucial milestone on our path to building a hybrid supercomputing system that can transform research and innovation across many industries, said Jason Zander, Microsoft's executive vice president for strategic mission and technologies.

It is made possible by the collective advancement of quantum hardware, qubit virtualisation and correction, and hybrid applications that take advantage of the best of AI and supercomputing, he added.

According to researchers, one of the key challenges of quantum computing is scalability. It lacks the skill to increase the number and quality of qubits in a system without compromising their performance and reliability.

However, the new technology promises scaled quantum computers that would come with an ability to simulate the interactions of millions of molecules and atoms at a level beyond the reach of traditional computers.

But quantum computing is just one layer for driving these breakthrough insights, industry experts said.

Researchers require access to appropriate tools at each stage of their discovery process to effectively address every aspect of their scientific challenge and generate insights where they are most impactful.

This is what we built empowering organisations to transform research and development with capabilities, including screening massive data sets with AI, narrowing down options with high-performance computing or improving model accuracy with the power of scaled quantum computing in the future, Mr Zander said.

Quantum computing uses the principles of quantum physics, which govern the behaviour of particles at the atomic and subatomic levels, to tackle challenges that classical computers are unable to solve.

Quantum computing has the potential to, for example, model how chemical reactions take place, potentially eliminating the need to carry out reactions in a laboratory to develop drugs.

Unlike traditional computers, which encode information as either a zero or a one, quantum computers use qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously, presenting a disruptive shift in data storage and processing capabilities.

Currently some of the worlds biggest technology firms are working with computers with a capacity of about 100 qubits, but to tackle the biggest problems, machines with 100,000 or one million qubits may be required.

The quantum computing market size is projected to top $6.5 billion by 2030 from $928.8 million last year, expanding at a compound annual rate of 32.1 per cent, according to researcher Fortune Business Insights.

The world's biggest economies, including the US, Russia, China and Japan, as well as technology majors such as IBM, Alibaba, Google and Microsoft, are all investing heavily in the field. Companies such as Visa, JP Morgan and Volkswagen are also experimenting with early-stage quantum technology.

In late 2019, Google announced that it had achieved quantum supremacy, meaning its quantum computer became the first to solve a calculation in less than four minutes that would have taken the worlds most powerful supercomputer 10,000 years to complete.

The company also said in 2021 that it plans to build a commercial-grade quantum computer by 2029 that can perform error-free complex calculations in tiny fractions of a second.

Updated: April 04, 2024, 4:20 AM

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Microsoft's latest breakthrough in quantum computing: What it means - The National

In recent financial updates, D-Wave Quantum has become a beacon of optimism within the quantum computing sector, receiving raised price targets from industry analysts, which reflect a strong belief in the companys growing market performance and potential. Notably, a renowned investment firm, Benchmark, doubled its price target for D-Wave Quantum, a testament to the sectors promising future.

At the start of trading on a recent Tuesday, D-Waves stock was valued at $1.84 and has since shown consistent growth, as evidenced by its moving averages. Its market cap was recorded at just under $300 million, pointing to a robust financial position in the market.

This increase in value and company prospects has been mirrored by the significant investments of institutional investors, such as Credit Suisse AG and Geode Capital Management. These investors now hold a substantial portion of D-Waves stock, further solidifying the companys standing in the innovative field of quantum computing.

D-Wave Quantums journey is marked by their continuous advancements in providing quantum computing systems and platforms, such as their cutting-edge Advantage quantum computer and Leap cloud service. These advancements are propelling the industry forward at a time when quantum computing is poised to revolutionize various sectors, from drug discovery to financial modeling.

The quantum computing market is on the brink of a major expansion, anticipated to exceed a multimillion-dollar valuation with accelerated growth rates in the coming decade. D-Wave is well-positioned in this emerging industry that, despite facing hurdles in scaling, talent acquisition, and security concerns, holds immense untapped potential.

D-Wave Quantums upward trajectory, bolstered by institutional interest and increasing stock targets, signals a rising wave of confidence in the transformative power of quantum computing. For a deeper understanding of this field, individuals are encouraged to explore credible sources known for rich technology insights and market analysis.

As D-Wave Quantum progresses, both the company and the larger quantum computing industry await heightened investor confidence and expanded market applications in the near future, paving the way for technological revolutions across diverse industries.

The Quantum Computing Industry

The past few years have seen notable developments in quantum computing, an area of technology that leverages the principles of quantum mechanics to process information. Quantum computers are expected to solve complex computational problems much faster than traditional computers, which could lead to breakthroughs in various fields, including cryptography, optimization, financial modeling, and artificial intelligence.

The industry has been gathering momentum due to increased investments from both the public and private sectors, aiming to advance research and generate real-world applications. Companies like D-Wave Quantum are at the forefront of this innovative domain, focusing on delivering usable quantum computing systems and services.

Market Forecasts

Market forecasts for quantum computing are highly optimistic, predicting significant growth over the next decade. Analysts project that the global quantum computing market could be worth billions, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) that underscores the markets dynamic nature. This growth is fueled by the increasing demand for high-performance computing and the potential for quantum computers to address intractable problems that cannot be solved by classical computers.

Industry Challenges

Despite its promise, the quantum computing industry faces challenges related to technological scalability, talent acquisition, and cybersecurity. Scaling quantum computers to more qubits, which are the fundamental units of quantum computing, is essential for practical applications but comes with increased error rates and complexity. Finding skilled workers with expertise in quantum physics and computer science is another challenge, given the specialized knowledge required. Additionally, the potential of quantum computing to break current encryption algorithms presents significant cybersecurity concerns, calling for the development of quantum-resistant cryptography.

Investor Confidence and Market Applications

With rising investor confidence, as indicated by supportive actions from firms such as Benchmark, and institutional investments from entities such as Credit Suisse AG and Geode Capital Management, D-Wave Quantum and other industry players may see continued growth. This positive sentiment is likely reinforced by the broader industrys potential to impact various sectors dramatically, suggesting a wealth of future applications and a strong incentive for continued investment.

Given this rich landscape, those interested in the quantum computing field are encouraged to stay informed through credible technology news and market analysis sources. As advances in quantum computing continue to accelerate, D-Wave Quantums progress and the overall industrys future developments remain areas of keen interest and high expectations, with anticipation for the transformative effects on numerous industries and societal challenges.

For further insights into the quantum computing market and industry trends, informative resources can be found at technology and financial news outlets, such as Bloomberg, CNBC, or Wired, which regularly cover advancements and market analysis in cutting-edge sectors like quantum computing.

Igor Nowacki is a fictional author known for his imaginative insights into futuristic technology and speculative science. His writings often explore the boundaries of reality, blending fact with fantasy to envision groundbreaking inventions. Nowackis work is celebrated for its creativity and ability to inspire readers to think beyond the limits of current technology, imagining a world where the impossible becomes possible. His articles are a blend of science fiction and visionary tech predictions.

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Rising Confidence in Quantum Computing: D-Wave Quantum's Stock Value Climbs - yTech

Quantinuum's latest generation quantum computer with Microsoft's qubit-virtualization system demonstrate logical qubits with 800x better logical error rates than physical error rates

LONDON and BROOMFIELD, Colo., April 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Quantinuum, the world's largest integrated quantum computing company, together with Microsoft, has achieved a breakthrough in making fault tolerant quantum computing a reality, by demonstrating the most reliable logical qubits with active syndrome extraction, an achievement previously believed to be years away from realization.

A collaboration between Quantinuum's team in the USA and UK and Microsoft's quantum computing team has led to the creation of four logical qubits that demonstrate error rates 800 times lower than corresponding physical error rates. Impressively, the joint team demonstrated the ability to run 14,000 independent instances of a quantum circuit error-free. Breakthroughs of this magnitude have the potential to significantly accelerate progress towards the ultimate goal of achieving universal fault tolerant quantum computing, potentially shortening the timeline to tackling real-world problems and revolutionizing fields like materials science and drug discovery.

The achievement stems from the industry leading fidelity, scalability, and flexibility of Quantinuum's 32-qubit H2 quantum processor, Powered by Honeywell, combined with Microsoft's highly innovative error correction capabilities. The joint team created four logical qubits using 30 of the 32 physical qubits available on the H2, leading to the creation of what both companies herald as the most "reliable logical qubits". They also successfully demonstrated syndrome extraction, another critical milestone that is necessary for fault tolerant quantum computing. More details of the results can be reviewed here.

"The result announced today further cements Quantinuum's position at the forefront of universal fault tolerant quantum computing. Today's achievement was only possible using Quantinuum's H2 quantum computer, with its unparalleled 99.8% two-qubit gate fidelities; the 32 qubits in our QCCD architecture; and all-to-all qubit connectivity. Building on the exceptional performance of our current systems, we will continue to innovate to make universal fault tolerant quantum computing a reality sooner than previously imagined." - Rajeeb Hazra, CEO, Quantinuum.

In the new era described by Microsoft as "Level 2 Resilient", quantum computing is capable of dealing with the issues caused by errors, and can begin to tackle meaningful challenges, such as modelling the states of molecules and materials, simulating systems in condensed matter physics, and exploring solutions to problems across many fields. Based on Microsoft's exacting criteria, the demonstration of multiple, entangled logical qubits, with the logical qubits outperforming the physical qubits marks a long-anticipated transition into this second phase of quantum computing.

"This is an important breakthrough for quantum computing. The collaboration between Quantinuum and Microsoft has established a crucial step forward for the industry and demonstrated a critical milestone on the path to hybrid classical-quantum supercomputing capable of transforming scientific discovery." - Dr. Krysta Svore Distinguished Engineer and VP of Advanced Quantum Development for Microsoft Azure Quantum

"As leaders, we will continue to innovate more rapidly than the competition, with hardware innovations and developing applications to take advantage of the new era of truly logical qubits. We will continue to ensure that our customers are the first to benefit from these and future breakthroughs. I am excited to see how they take advantage of reliable quantum computing, to generate more powerful solutions than ever to their most challenging problems." - Ilyas Khan, Vice-Chairman and Chief Product Officer, Quantinuum

About Quantinuum

Quantinuum, the world's largest integrated quantum company, pioneers powerful quantum computers and advanced software solutions. Quantinuum's technology drives breakthroughs in materials discovery, cybersecurity, and next-gen quantum AI. With almost 500 employees, including 370+ scientists and engineers, Quantinuum leads the quantum computing revolution across continents.

The Honeywell trademark is used under license from Honeywell International Inc. Honeywell makes no representations or warranties with respect to this service.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2377853/Quantinuum_H2_Angle_2.jpg

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Quantinuum Partners with Microsoft in New Phase of Reliable Quantum Computing with Breakthrough Demonstration ... - PR Newswire

The race for quantum computing dominance is heating up, creating big opportunities for related quantum computing stocks.

Right now, China and the U.S. appear to be neck and neck. In fact, GlobalData Principal Analyst Isabel Al-Dhahir, said:

In 2024, the two countries stand almost neck-and-neck, albeit with very different strategies. Private companies lead the way in the U.S., while in China, expertise is increasingly concentrated within state institutions.

So far, the U.S. committed about $3 billion in funding for quantum projects. Another $1.2 billion came from the National Quantum Computing Initiative. And even more money is likely to flow in from the Pentagon. Meanwhile, China has committed about $15 billion.

We also have to consider that quantum computing often lands on theU.S. critical and emerging technologies list, which adds technologies that could potentially impact national security with its ability to solve complex problems.

With the race for dominance only set to heat up, here are just a few top quantum computing stocks you may want to invest in today.

Source: Amin Van / Shutterstock.com

After dropping from about $15.50 to less than $10,IonQ(NYSE:IONQ) is starting to bounce.

Last trading at $9.95, Id like to see it initially retest $15.50, and eventually $21.60, as quantum computing stocks start to gain momentum.

While its EPS loss of 20 cents missed by three cents, revenues of $6.1 million were up 60.1% year over year. Analysts were looking for a loss of 17 cents on revenue of $5.76 million. Also, its full-year 2023 revenue of $22 million andbookings of $65.1 million was up 98% and 166%,respectively, year over year.

For 2024, IONQ expects revenue of $37 million to $41 million, which is year-over-year growth of 68.2% and 86.4%, respectively.

Moving forward, the company could do even better with the artificial intelligence boom.By shifting AI workloads to our increasingly powerful quantum computers, IonQ can help address the worlds next great computing challenge, says CEO Peter Chapman.

Source: Boykov / Shutterstock.com

We can also look at quantum computing stocks likeD-Wave Quantum(NYSE:QBTS).

When I first mentioned QBTS on February 1, it traded at around 90 cents. Today, after hitting a high of $2.44, its at $2.01 and still a strong opportunity.

Helping, QBTS and Zapata AI, a generative artificial intelligence software company, announced a collaboration to combine quantum computing and generative AI. And if all works out well, it could create a sizable profit opportunity for all involved.

Dr. Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave, said:

Our agreement with Zapata AI marks a significant step toward realizing the potential of combining two of todays most transformative technologies generative AI and quantum computing to help tackle our societys most computationally complex problems Our companies share a common vision to accelerate exploration, adoption and commercial use of emerging technologies to fuel innovation and transformation. Together, we believe D-Wave and Zapata AI will usher in the commercial era of quantum machine learning.

Source: Shutterstock

Or, if youd rather diversify at a low cost, theres theDefiance Quantum ETF(NYSEARCA:QTUM), which has been in a strong uptrend since November. From its current price of $61.38, Id eventually like to see the QTUM ETF race to about $80 a share.

With an expense ratio of 0.40%, the ETF is exposed to companies at the forefront of machine learning, quantum computing, cloud computing and other transformative computing technologies, as noted by DefianceETFs.com. It also tracks the BlueStar Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index, with about 71 holdings.

Some of its top holdings includeNvidia(NASDAQ:NVDA),Marvell Technology(NASDAQ:MRVL) andAdvanced Micro Devices(NASDAQ:AMD).

Whats nice about this ETF is that we can buy 100 shares of it for about $6,100 at the moment. All while gaining exposure to some of the biggest tech companies in the world. Thats a lot less expensive than buying 100 shares of NVDA for $9,000 a pop, which is just one of the funds top 71 holdings.

On the date of publication, Ian Cooper did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.comPublishing Guidelines.

Ian Cooper, a contributor to InvestorPlace.com, has been analyzing stocks and options for web-based advisories since 1999.

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Hot Stocks: The 3 Best Opportunities for Investing in Quantum Computing - InvestorPlace

In 1940, one genius completed a puzzle in just 20 minutes that shouldve taken him a million years to solve.

His name is Alan Turing.

You may be familiar with Turings story from the 2014 movie The Imitation Game. Benedict Cumberbatch earned a Best Actor nomination for his portrayal of the genius.

If you saw the movie, you know Turing is considered the father of computer science and one of the most important code-breakers of all time.

When World War II broke out in 1939, Turing was assigned to breaking encrypted messages from the Germans.

This was no easy task, as the Germans held the most sophisticated encryption machine at the time, the Enigma.

Credit: ironypoisoning, via Wikimedia Commons

The Enigmas encryption was far greater than anything before its time.

It became clear cracking the code to the Enigma was going to require an even smarter machine. So Turing built one.

It took Turing and his team nearly a year to build a machine that was powerful enough to decrypt Enigmas messages. It was known as the Bombe, and it helped the Allies crack 84,000 Enigma-coded messages each month.

Decrypting messages went from taking potentially a million years by hand to just 20 minutes.

Heres why were telling you this

Last year, IBM debuted its 1,121-qubit Condor processor. Its the most advanced quantum computer to date.

Quantum computers such as the Condor can perform billions of calculations per second. So they can find patterns in data that are invisible to classic computers. They have the potential to revolutionize everything from medicine to engineering.

Many crypto skeptics believe bitcoins defenses will be broken as quantum computers get more powerful And it will share the same fate as the Enigma.

But theres one key mistake that made the Enigma almost certain to fail. And bitcoin doesnt share that flaw

The reason Enigma failed is because once it was built its creators never improved it.

It was only a matter of time before those looking to crack the Enigma would develop better technology.

While the Enigma stood dead in its tracks, Turing made improvements to his decryption machine every day until it became more powerful than the Enigma.

The lesson here is that you always need to push forward. If you dont, the competition will close the gap.

Its a lesson bitcoin developers took to heart.

The bitcoin network was developed with quantum computing mechanics in mind. To combat this, the difficulty to mine the next bitcoin block increases as more computing power comes online.

Take a look at the chart below. It shows the hash power, or computing power, of the bitcoin mining network.

Every year, the computing power that goes into mining a bitcoin block (in other words, processing a transaction) increases.

As mentioned above, IBM released its 1,121-qubit Condor processor in December 2023.

According to the University of Sussex, youd need a quantum computer with 1.9 billion qubits of processing power to break the bitcoin network.

This means youd need 1.7 million of the most powerful quantum computers built today.

IBM believes it can get to 10,000 qubits by 2026. Even then, itll need nearly 200,000 of these machines to crack the bitcoin network.

How long will it take for companies like IBM to build this many machines? Years? Decades?

Plus, if you want to attack the bitcoin network, you need to control 51% of the networks computing power.

Today, one of the best bitcoin miners, the Bitmain Antminer S19 Pro, will cost you $2,200. This machine can generate 110 terahashes per second (TH/s).

The bitcoin network uses roughly 384.33 million TH/s. That means youd need 1.78 million Antminer S19 Pros to overtake the network. Thats over $3.9 billion.

Youd also need to pay for a storage facility to set up these machines. And youd need to coordinate a massive amount of electricity to the building. These machines consume roughly 3,250 watts per hour.

At an average cost of 23 cents per kilowatt, that would cost about $32 million per day.

But even if you spend nearly $4 billion to take over the bitcoin network, youd never be able to extract all $500 billion of its value. The moment that you overtake the network, its value would race to zero.

Its like pirates buying a $4 billion battleship to commandeer a cargo ship carrying $400 million worth of goods. Its not worth the effort.

And thats why the bitcoin network is considered antifragile. It would cost you more to take over the network than the network would be worth.

Every year that bitcoin exists, it moves further and further out of reach of attackers.

So while you might need 1.9 billion qubits of quantum computing processing power to break the blockchain today Youll likely need 3 billion qubits of processing power next year. And 4 billion the following year and so on.

Thats what separates the fatal flaw of the Enigma from the security of the bitcoin network.

When technology like the Enigma just stands still, competition surpasses you.

Bitcoin, on the other hand, is constantly improving its security. Its never satisfied with where its at. Even if it appears to be unbreakable today, it will still be stronger tomorrow.

So when you see quantum computers gaining ground, know that bitcoin isnt standing still.

Thats why the advances of quantum computers arent a threat to bitcoin for the foreseeable future.

So dont let quantum computing fears stop you from owning a stake in one of the worlds greatest assets.

Palm Beach Research Group

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Why Quantum Computers Will Never Break Bitcoin - Palm Beach Research Group