Implications of Quantum

By Greg Pepus

It’s always fun to make a joke about quantum physics, but I wasn’t sure if I should …. So, I did and I didn’t. Jokes aside, people are utterly fascinated by quantum computing and related technologies. ?This fact was made clear when, in a personal first for me, I attended South by Southwest (SxSW) in Austin, TX the week of March 11th 2022.

The goal in part was to help support a day long symposium on the “Implications of Quantum”, an event held on Saturday March 12th 2022 at the Capital Factory AWS House for SxSW in the Austin Omni.?That event was co-sponsored by IBM, AWS, MITRE, and the University of Texas at Dallas.?NOTE: The unedited and unenhanced video stream for the entire event including breaks can be found here. Make sure to wear headphones and turn up the volume to hear the sound track more clearly.

There was significant interest in the “Implications of Quantum” track at SxSW and attendance at the event was high for the entire day.?What was more interesting was the level of participation by attendees in terms of asking questions, offering opinions, and sharing comments, all of which was a bit surprising.?Those “in the know” about SxSW, understand that during SxSW, high levels of interest and participation are commonplace, no matter what the topic might be.

One of the things that became clear while helping pull together the “Implications of Quantum” track was that there are relatively few experts in the field of Quantum Computing, Sensing, Communications, Cybersecurity, and related areas.?The team was exceptionally fortunate to be able to find some of the most knowledgeable and approachable experts in the field of Quantum to participate in the SxSW Quantum track. ??Selected experts came from fortune 100 companies, startup companies, universities, and national labs and the team was very lucky to have so many generous people help deliver a successful quantum track at SxSW.

My goal in reviewing the 5 sessions delivered during the “Implications of Quantum” track is to give readers a sense of what the event was about, who was involved, and also to provide key takeaways from each of the sessions.?

1)?????Quantum State – Key Note by Rick Muller (Sandia National Labs).?

Rick is an accomplished scientist and senior manager at Sandia National Labs. He participates nationally and internationally on the development of core research related to quantum including quantum computing. ?He provided an in-depth review of the “Quantum State” of the world resulting in the following 5 key takeaways:

• Quantum information re-designates what is easy and what is hard in the world of computing by using the concepts of entanglement, superposition, and interference to represent computer science based informational concepts.
• Quantum computing doesn’t do most of what classical computing does, but it does perform certain computational tasks that are very hard for classical computers extremely quickly with a high degree of accuracy.?Quantum computing will not replace classical computing but instead will be another aspect of Super Computing or High-Performance Computing. Another arrow in the quiver of computational equipment.
• General purpose quantum computers are still a very, very long way off. This means that to build a low error rate general purpose quantum computing device is still many years, if not decades, in the future
• Quantum can be used for computing, communications and networking, atomic clocks, non-satellite global positioning, and sensing. 1/Quantum sensing is here today in the form of gravitational sensing, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and highly accurate atomic clocks, 2/quantum communications and networking is coming soon, 3/quantum computing for special purpose devices is close or available today, and 4/general purpose quantum computing is far off in terms of practical devices.
• An example of a problem indicative of the types of problems that can’t be solved by classical computing today in a timely fashion (but may be practically solvable by quantum computing) is for the efficient low energy conversion of nitrogen into ammonia for the delivery of fertilizer.?Today the world uses 2% of its total energy output to make fertilizer from nitrogen and hydrogen.?Quantum computing will enable us to engineer a process which generates nitrogenase using a catalyst rather than 2% of world energy – which we can’t currently do.?For example, converting N2 to NH3.?Think of this as creating an ability for humans to use chlorophyll in order to create food – a very highly efficient process which quantum computing may enable.

2)?????Quantum for Good – Panel with Michael Brett (AWS), Rebecca Krauthamer (QuSecure), Jenni Strabley (Quantinuum), and William Hurley (StrangeWorks). Historically, much of the news about quantum computing and related technologies has been negative in terms of effects, costs, and dangers from foreign adversaries.?The quantum for good panel focused on the positive future for quantum which will span many industries, creating opportunities to solve previously unsolvable problems. These opportunities range from advancing drug discovery in healthcare to enhancing our climate and earth analytics (such as weather prediction capabilities) in the era of climate change. Michael, Rebeca, Jenni, and Whurley discussed the positive future of quantum and this discussion produced the following 5 key takeaways:

• Quantum is promoting good in obvious ways, like using accurate molecular modelling to accelerate routes to drug discovery. This has already started on today's relatively primitive quantum computing devices and will accelerate as hardware improves.
• Quantum also promotes good in less obvious ways, like driving investment into regions that may not be as likely to be early investors in R&D, enabling a whole new surge of interest in science, technology, engineering, and medicine (STEM) fields across the globe.
• Cyber security is a ready-now application of quantum. While people write a lot about the?quantum threat to security, quantum devices are also now able to be used to protect data and privacy. This poses low, or no?ethical concerns and is a greater force for good.
• Throughout the pandemic we managed to democratize access to quantum learning materials through new webinars and low-cost/no-cost virtual meetings. Lowering the barrier to get access to quantum information learning material has opened access to quantum education across the globe. Interest in quantum now goes beyond the quantum scientists, attracting a greater diversity of people into the myriad roles needed to move quantum forward.
• Quantum is just getting started and we are only just figuring out what it can and can’t do. That said, as we become clear on the potential, we can see that the term "disruptive" will be inadequate to describe the change quantum computers will bring. Like other technologies before it, there is an essential role for the ethics conversation to emphasize quantum for good. We have to engage in that discussion, to make sure that harm?can be?mitigated, and good can be spread fairly, so that quantum technology brings the most benefit to the most people.

?3)?????Quantum Talent – Panel with Olivia Lanes (IBM), Jin Sung Kim (NVIDIA), Charles Yuan (MIT/CSAIL), and Brian Cook (IBM).?Continuing our success in quantum depends on the diversity & expertise of a world-class community of researchers, developers, partners and educators.?We need to continue to attract & empower the best of the best in the quantum field with a team working across disciplines, borders and backgrounds—all pushing the frontiers of science and technology to help solve hard problems for the future. This comes in a number of forms from strategic partnerships, equipping educators and upskilling our current engineers, scientists, computer scientists, and software developers. Olivia, Jin, Charles, and Brian held a frank and detailed conversation on how we can help make this happen resulting in the following 5 key takeaways:

• Quantum talent is scarce, and fixing it will be a generational problem, as is recruiting diverse individuals.?Solving the problem of scarce quantum human resources will require that we re-train existing engineers, computer scientists, researchers, and other technically oriented workforce members to be able to add value in the field of quantum computing.
• The United States produces somewhere on the order of 80 to 100 quantum physicist PhDs each year.?It’s important to note that getting a PhD is not a fast or efficient process and can take from 6 to 8 years on average.?However, implementing quantum capabilities doesn’t necessarily require that every participant have a PhD.?Some schools are implementing quantum bachelors and masters degrees to try to grow the workforce quickly without having to “just” produce PhD candidates.
• Being a good student of quantum necessitates an interdisciplinary background of computer science, software engineering, physics, information theory, and cybersecurity to name a few areas which are important to the development of quantum talent.
• We can improve quantum computing education at the middle school/high school level as well as at the college and graduate level.?Further, curriculum need to be developed and enhanced to support this process at all stages of education.
• Just as summer camps based on space were important in the past to generate interest in that topic area, summer camp and extra-curricular STEM programs that promote quantum education are critical to generating future quantum talent.?Having an interest in the topic is the first step in the direction of a career in quantum.?Programs must be developed to initiate that early interest.

?4)?????Quantum Technologies – Panel with Antia Lamas-linares (AWS), Bob Sutor (Cold Quanta), William Hurley (StrangeWorks), and Michael Brett (AWS Braket).?Quantum Technologies offer the potential to change the face of logistics, chemistry, medicine, genetics, drug discovery, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and other areas yet to be thought of.?Accomplishing this quantum vision of the future means we will have to radically rethink and/or invent an entirely new technical ecosystems including quantum hardware and software, cybersecurity, communications/networking, sensors, and quantum data storage. The quantum technologies powering today’s quantum capabilities are rapidly evolving and Antia, Bob, Whurley, and Michael held an intense conversation on this topic with the following 5 takeaways:

• Quantum sensors are a simpler set of quantum technologies which have a basis in technology that is relatively old.?Quantum information theory for example dates from the early 1970s.?Moreover, sensors such as those used in medical MRI machines dates from work done in the 1940s.?The point is, that fairly simple technology (as compared with evolving quantum computers) is here now that makes use of quantum mechanical principles and which is helping people today.?A good example of quantum sensor-based hardware are quantum antennae which uses quantum approaches to building very highly sensitive RF receiving capabilities.
• Quantum communications is also very close to fruition.?Quantum communications is built on the concept of quantum encryption also called quantum key distribution (QKD).?This secures a channel from point A to point B and is virtually impossible to break.?Any attempt to observe, break, or otherwise change that channel results in the loss of the communications medium.?Quantum can therefore provide for very highly secure networking.?This is becoming increasingly important in a quantum computing age when classical cryptology becomes more vulnerable to quantum methodologies to break encryption keys.
• Currently, quantum computers are special purpose and used to solve a limited range of problems.?They only provide a few error corrected qubits and the ratio of error correction qubits to data qubits remains high.?General purpose quantum computing, which potentially has capabilities much, much greater than classical computing for certain types of complex problems still requires many more years of research and development.?Why? In quantum computing, proper fault tolerance remains a major scientific and engineering problem. For each data processing qubit there currently needs to be between 100 and 1000 error correction qubits and consequently, general purpose quantum computing remains elusive.?
• Programming quantum computers remains a significant challenge.?There are emerging programming languages for quantum for example imperative languages like Quantum Computation Language, Quantum Macro Assembler, and Silq and functional languages such as Quantum Machine Learning (QML), Quantum Lambda Calculus, and QFC/QPL.?There are even implementations of classical computing languages like Python for Quantum called Qiskit or QuTip and other new emerging languages built specifically for safe quantum programming like Twist. ?We have little idea what "large" quantum programs might look like, let alone how to ensure their legibility, maintainability and correctness.
• If a single quantum computer is interesting, then a group of quantum computers networked together in a quantum internet is positively thrilling.?Quantum internet becomes super important to quantum computing because you need quantum networks to carry quantum information.?That is, you can’t carry quantum information on classical networks as you must maintain the quantum state of information.?The only way to manage quantum information at a distance is (typically) to use photonic methods (entanglement) to communicate quantum information.?There are other methods using microwaves but photons are the cornerstone of communications at distance.

5)???Superposition in the United “States” – Panel with Bobby Blount (MITRE), Joseph S. Broz (IBM), Lauren Rogers (DIU), Laura Thomas (ColdQuanta), Kevin Kane (American Binary). Faster decision making, accelerated logistics, and simulation realism are just examples of the benefits the US, State and Local governments will achieve through quantum computing and technologies. Bobby, Joseph, Lauren, Laura, and Kevin discussed, at length, the vast impact of quantum on US national security and government efficiencies with the following 5 takeaways:

• Quantum will not only change governments, but the societies they govern, therefore federal, state, and local governments need to be “quantum ready” including workforce, industry, and continuing education. Research into quantum must be kept on parity with US global economic competitors. NOTE:?US investment in quantum is still much too low.
• Governments are enterprises too and will benefit from the computing capabilities of quantum the same way that the private sector will benefit (efficiencies, capabilities to solve hard problems, etc.)
• A global “quantum divide” is forming with fourteen countries demonstrating competent national quantum strategies. In order to stay on the right side of this divide, countries must vigorously pursue evolving quantum research and practical applications.
• The US national quantum initiative (NQI) is to be praised, but there must be more funding directed toward quantum research and access to keep global parity.
• US companies should increasingly focus government funding requests for quantum research toward that which benefits the US government, its missions, and its society and not just expect unlimited funding without measurable benefits to the government or to US taxpayers.

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Core Quantum Players Participating in the Implications of Quantum Track

• IBM is a leader in quantum, offering global cloud based low or no cost access for Quantum System One quantum computer to researchers, students, and the just plain curios
• AWS has added Braket, its cloud-based quantum compute offering as part of its high-performance computing system.?AWS offers an integrated approach to quantum simulators, and actual quantum computing solutions such as : Rigetti, IonQ, D-Wave, IBM, and Oxford Quantum Circuits.
• Cold Quanta are harnessing quantum mechanics capabilities to build and integrate quantum computers, sensors, quantum quantum key distribution, and network/communications.
• Quantinuum is the merger of Honeywell Quantum and Cambridge Quantum to build high-fidelity quantum computer hardware, software, and cyber security products.
• QuSecure is a quantum networking and cybersecurity company leading the charge to build more secure communication and networks using Quantum Key Distribution and other encryption key technology.

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In summary, quantum is of extraordinary interest globally. It is a technology that has capabilities available today and where massive amounts of investment are pouring into the business from both government and private sources.?The “Implications of Quantum” track at SxSW gave participants a peek at what is going on in the world of quantum.?It delivered a lot of complex information in a down to earth fashion that was accessible by non-scientist and non-engineering focused people.?Yet, experts in the field were able to participate and share a significant amount of complex information as well.

I’d like to offer a sincere shout out of thanks to all the participants on each panel as well as to the sponsors from IBM, AWS, MITRE, and the University of Texas at Dallas. Key mentions go to?John Randall, Bobby Blount, Brian Cook, Alec MacEachern, Rich Julien, and Mary Gwinn. Without the participation of these organizations and people the “Implications of Quantum” track at SxSW would not have been possible.?It’s also important to deliver a special note of thanks to the fantastic team at Capital Factory for all the work they did to make this track possible.