Companies Use AI Chips to Run Quantum-based Programs

Quantum computers promise to be millions of times faster than today's fastest supercomputers. They could greatly change everything from climate change research to medical development. The wait for these machines, though, has been long, even with the billions of dollars of investment.

But concerns and poor stock performance of some quantum computer companies have not frightened investors². Instead, some are turning to startups that are using powerful chips to run quantum-based programming on traditional computers.

In the past, quantum-based programming algorithms were too big to use in traditional computers. But now, artificial intelligence (AI) chips can make the process possible, industry leaders told Reuters.

QC Ware³ is a programming startup that has raised more than $33 million. It started by creating programing that could run on quantum computers, but said it needed to change directions and find a solution that works today.

So, QC Ware co-founder Matt Johnson said, the company turned to tech business Nvidia Corp's graphic⁴ processing units (GPU). Johnson said the goal is to "build a bridge to quantum processing in the future."

GPUs are microchips that were made to process video for computer games. They have became so powerful that they do most of AI computing⁵ today. They are now being used in quantum development as well.

This week, QC Ware is presenting a quantum-based programming called Promethium. It will process how chemical molecules⁶ work with other molecules on a traditional computer using GPUs.

Robert Parrish is QC Ware's head of quantum chemistry. He said the programming can cut processing time from hours to minutes for molecules of 100 atoms, and months to hours for molecules of up to 2000 atoms, compared to today's programming.

One billion dollars raised

Big-name investors in quantum computing include Alphabet Inc's former chairman Eric Schmidt, Samsung, and In-Q-Tel, an investor¹ partner of U.S. intelligence agencies.

The startups receiving large amounts of money say they are able to make money as customers wait for quantum computers to arrive. That customer interest, in turn, is bringing in more investors.

Market research firm PitchBook found that in the past 18 months, quantum programming startups including SandBoxAQ, started by Alphabet, raised about $1 billion.

William Hurley is head of Austin-based quantum programming startup Strangeworks. He said in the end, the programming based on quantum physics will not perform well on quantum computers without some changes.

Still, he said companies that start using them will have engineers "learning about quantum and the phenomenon and the process, which will better prepare them to use quantum computers at the point that they do so." That moment could arrive suddenly, he said.

Words in This Story

quantum – n. the smallest amount of many forms of energy (such as light)

chip – n. a very small piece of hard material (called silicon) in a computer or other device that contains many electronic circuits

startup – n. a new business

algorithm – n. a set of steps that are followed in order to solve a mathematical problem or to complete a computer process

artificial intelligence – n. an area of computer science that deals with giving machines the ability to seem like they have human intelligence

phenomenon – n. something (such as an interesting fact or event) that can be observed and studied and that typically is unusual or difficult to understand or explain fully

1 investor   

n.投资者，投资人

参考例句：

• My nephew is a cautious investor.我侄子是个小心谨慎的投资者。
• The investor believes that his investment will pay off handsomely soon.这个投资者相信他的投资不久会有相当大的收益。

2 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

3 ware   

n.(常用复数)商品，货物

参考例句：

• The shop sells a great variety of porcelain ware.这家店铺出售品种繁多的瓷器。
• Good ware will never want a chapman.好货不须叫卖。

4 graphic   

adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的

参考例句：

• The book gave a graphic description of the war.这本书生动地描述了战争的情况。
• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons.用图标来区分重要的文本项。

5 computing   

n.计算

参考例句：

• to work in computing 从事信息处理
• Back in the dark ages of computing, in about 1980, they started a software company. 早在计算机尚未普及的时代（约1980年），他们就创办了软件公司。

6 molecules   

分子( molecule的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The structure of molecules can be seen under an electron microscope. 分子的结构可在电子显微镜下观察到。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules. 在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。