Future Tech Explainer Series: Quantum Computing – The God Technology

Quantum Computing – The God Technology

Applied AI has been around for decades. It’s already in our hands and homes. Pervasive and ignored. So what has suddenly changed for AI technology to explode in recent times? The short answer is ‘enhanced computing capabilities (Fig.1). Until about a decade ago, the most limiting factor for AI advancement was incremental growth in computational power. By the 2010s new hardware breakthroughs were achieved which enabled faster computing at scale. AI mimics human intelligence through heuristics (trial and error) & brute force like methods at lightning speeds. Hence matching computational power is critical for its advancement.

Fig.1:

The current wave of AI technologies, reliant on existing advanced computing/processing hardware, will progress in the expected upward trajectory as per Moore’s law, for another decade or two. By then, the most awaited first generation of super-advanced hardware computing technology ‘Quantum Computing’ (QC) should break cover. This would be another watershed moment for humanity. To put it in layman’s perspective, Quantum Computation will tower over existing chip-based advanced computing, akin to sky vs sky-scraper. What existing computing technology could accomplish in trillions of years, QC will churn in the blink of an eye. With QC humans will then be handling magical technologies/powers. The combined power-trio of matured ‘Quantum Computing (hardware), advanced AI/AGI (software) & Algorithms (rules) could propel the human species into the realms of God. This is no exaggeration.

Quantum Mechanics is the science of sub-atomic particles. Applied quantum mechanics is Quantum Computing. Unlike our real world, the tiny quantum world is spooky. Literally. One exists and doesn’t exist at the same time (superposition). What affects one, affects the other, irrespective of the distance of separation (entanglement). That’s quantum theory in a nutshell. Scientists are burning the midnight oil to apply this spooky theory to real-world technologies in the form of quantum computing. Even the best of scientists couldn’t yet get their heads around QM. It still doesn’t have one theory. As John von Neumann, the father of modern computers famously said, “You don’t understand Quantum Mechanics, you just get used to it”. The scope of this article is limited to applied quantum computing.

Big tech companies have been researching quantum computing for decades. Apart from the occasional small breakthroughs, the holy grail continues to remain elusive. Harnessing the power of sub-atomic particles is excruciatingly challenging even for the best of human minds. However, with recent hyper advancements in computing hardware, a major breakthrough is expected within a decade. The hyper-phase of AI development will begin then, riding on the shoulders of quantum computing. Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) could be within reach.

Application of quantum computing in the real world could turn many current-day magic into science. ?Including the magician’s mesmerizing act of disappearing and appearing elsewhere simultaneously (materialize-dematerialize). Calculating the speed of the mind could be a possibility.

“Predicting” weather will no longer exist. What the weatherman says, will happen with certainty. Thanks to the trio-power of ‘quantum computing-AI-algorithms’. The current challenge of weather forecasting, which often goes haywire, is primarily due to limitations in the computation of data at scale. With quantum computing, churning data volume at lightning speed becomes a reality. Thus, the weatherman of the future will be able to even precisely forecast micro-climate/weather around your homestead.

Many aspects of our current everyday life will need to adapt to quantum computing driven realities. All our passwords, however complicated, become redundant. Including the central bank’s gold vault ‘cryptographic-algorithmic’ passwords. For a quantum computer, breaking current passwords won’t even take a millisecond. Scientists are currently busy creating ‘quantum proof’ passwords of the future.

The rapid advancement of Frontier Technologies is fascinating to watch. The ‘long wave of innovation’ (Fig.2) is getting shorter by the decade. The next 1-2 decades would be action-packed surpassing the best of Sci-Fi movies. Many early Gen-Xers like me will have the opportunity to witness this magical transition. Maybe, by then people will live much longer. Postponing or even defeating the ‘current’ inevitables.

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Author Profile:?Writes about life. Consults on human potential and workplace HR. A keen observer of emerging trends and technologies that enhance workplace productivity. AI/People Analytics and its effective and ethical usage at the workplace is the current preoccupation. Over 25 years of broad experience developing Leadership/Human Resources in large global organizations and start-ups. Enjoy analyzing and going beyond the hype. Admire the word ‘holism’.