Quantum computing thread

[tphuang]

A few points:

1. I didn't say everyone is ignoring it, I said everyone in the field is aware it is going to be a possibly multiple decades before it can succeed to replace or supplement normal computers.
2. The physicists that I specially follow include: Lu Chao-yang, he is a genius researcher, an authority on quantum computers and communications and directly works under Pan Jianwei.
3. Who is using quantum computers except as a gimmick? To note: this doesn't include quantum communications, sensing, and quantum proof-cryptography

Again, take a look at the applications. Right now, it is basically only being used in drug discovery and fintech sector. And company involved have already created drugs that got paid.

So whatever it’s state of general application is, it clearly can already be used in drug discovery.

 

[sunnymaxi]

This may be one of the biggest breakthrough in recent times.

Chinese Physicists Just Solved Quantum Computing’s Hardest Challenge - Protecting Qubits From Environmental Noise. Pan Jianwei, often called "the father of quantum" and his team used their Zuchongzhi 2 quantum processor to create a 'quantum Lego block' that simply refuses to fall apart, even when shaken by noise or errors.

This is the first ever experimental realisation of non equilibrium higher order topological phases, a huge deal because it points to quantum bits that don’t break down, solving one of the biggest problems in quantum computing. And they did it on a 66 qubit programmable quantum chip, using just a 6x6 section to simulate and detect these ultra stable corner states, something that doesn’t naturally exist in nature.

If this scales, we’re talking practical, fault tolerant quantum computers that can power next level AI, drug discovery, and massive scientific simulations.

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[jli88]

This may be one of the biggest breakthrough in recent times.

Chinese Physicists Just Solved Quantum Computing’s Hardest Challenge - Protecting Qubits From Environmental Noise. Pan Jianwei, often called "the father of quantum" and his team used their Zuchongzhi 2 quantum processor to create a 'quantum Lego block' that simply refuses to fall apart, even when shaken by noise or errors.

This is the first ever experimental realisation of non equilibrium higher order topological phases, a huge deal because it points to quantum bits that don’t break down, solving one of the biggest problems in quantum computing. And they did it on a 66 qubit programmable quantum chip, using just a 6x6 section to simulate and detect these ultra stable corner states, something that doesn’t naturally exist in nature.

If this scales, we’re talking practical, fault tolerant quantum computers that can power next level AI, drug discovery, and massive scientific simulations.

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Lu Chaoyang himself is an important member of the team, and he has explicitly said that this is just a stepping stone, real application is long way off.

Here's the actual paper if you want to confirm:

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Again, take a look at the applications. Right now, it is basically only being used in drug discovery and fintech sector. And company involved have already created drugs that got paid.

So whatever it’s state of general application is, it clearly can already be used in drug discovery.

Here's a review article of quantum computer usage in drug discovery.

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Quoting

"quantum computers are still far from being used as daily tools in the pharmaceutical industry"

Any claimed application in drug discovery today is just gimmick to gather headlines and funding.

 

[tphuang]

Lu Chaoyang himself is an important member of the team, and he has explicitly said that this is just a stepping stone, real application is long way off.

Here's the actual paper if you want to confirm:

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Here's a review article of quantum computer usage in drug discovery.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Quoting

"quantum computers are still far from being used as daily tools in the pharmaceutical industry"

Any claimed application in drug discovery today is just gimmick to gather headlines and funding.

And I don't expect an article for April 2024 to be fully up to date with industry moves. Keep in mind that as of 2024, Quantum computing didn't do that much, but that really picked up in 2025.

And given that AI itself is not actually used as a "daily tool" in Pharma industry, but is only tried out by some players at the moment, one would imagine it would taken even more adventurous companies to try out Quantum computing AIDD.

It takes time for any industry to change. Only when something is demonstrated to work, will the masses more. That's why Biomap created their own JV Biogend to do AI drug development. If everyone is using their leading AI model, do you think they will be making their own JV to demonstrate that they can bring drug into development. Any new technology requires brave people to spend time to test out. But clearly, there are people already trying out Quantum computing based AI drug discovery as evident by QBoson's cloud usage chart. If it was not being used, then why did 1/3 of all queries into that cloud happened in the past quarter? If people are not finding something useful, then they would not bother using it more.

 

[subotai1]

Reality is that most of the quantum advancement its being kept quiet. Think about it. As an example, you make a breakthrough cracking certain kinds of cryptography. Do you want to tell everyone about it or exploit it? Same for other applications.

The companies that are leading this like Alphabet, Capgemini, Pasqal, Xanadu, are split between technology advancement and application of it to solve business problems. They are not being public about success or failures. There is too much at stake.

 

[PopularScience]

Reality is that most of the quantum advancement its being kept quiet. Think about it. As an example, you make a breakthrough cracking certain kinds of cryptography. Do you want to tell everyone about it or exploit it? Same for other applications.

The companies that are leading this like Alphabet, Capgemini, Pasqal, Xanadu, are split between technology advancement and application of it to solve business problems. They are not being public about success or failures. There is too much at stake.

The leading is Google which published a lot of papers.

 

[tphuang]

i don't know if it's all that quiet anymore. The amount of news coming out of China's QC sector in the past few months is actually quite impressive. Keep in mind that humanoid robot is the new hot sector these days out of China, but it's actually still several years from being ready for the full time. That hasn't stopped people from buying them and trying them out. So, it shouldn't surprise anyone that people are already trying out QC in drug discovery and fintech sectors. You can only make these leaps from collaboration with end users.