Quantum Computers: Optimism and Pessimism

After exploring the topic of quantum computation in an intro edX class, my high-level understanding is that although some basic algorithm are known that will revolution specific fields (ie Shor's algorithm's impact on crypto-currency, block-chain, cyber-security; quantum search algorithm will boost quantum machine learning and optimization), real world applications require a huge leap in quantum algorithm design that will be difficult to achieve in practice.

I'm most excited about the potential of quantum computers to simulate the quantum world, which cannot be efficiently done on classical computers. Vast areas of society can be impacted by creating designer drugs, understanding drug & protein interactions, chemical reactions, designing molecular catalysts to remove NOx and CO2, and design future more efficient quantum computers.

I'm least excited about the cleverness needed to design quantum algorithms. It's not as simple as designing a classical algorithm because the detailed states inside quantum bits cannot be read, only probabilistic bit values can be read when collapsed. In theory quantum computers are "faster" but it has never been mathematically proven... I fear Quantum Coders will be even more scarce than Data Scientist today limiting the adoption of this technology.

Time will tell!

Want to learn more? MITx Quantum courses on edX

What do you think? When will quantum computers be commercialized?