A.I., virtual reality, and automation are all new technological leaps for mankind. However, there is another: quantum computing. It is 158 million times faster than today’s biggest supercomputers. For those who don’t know what it is, it is a mix of computer science and quantum mechanics that helps computers solve problems at ungodly rates, rendering classical computers incomparable in terms of computability.
What is quantum computing?
The computers we normally use today rely on transistors to collect binary data states (0’s and 1’s). However, in quantum computing, they use qubits, which exist in a two-way quantum system. Weird, right? That’s physics for you! This means each qubit represents 0’s and 1’s simultaneously, a situation known as superposition. Due to these abilities, quantum computers can perform calculations with multiple steps at an exceedingly fast rate. For example, if you ask the machine to solve a lengthy math equation with multiple operations, it would finish in a near instant. However, classical computers would take a long time to calculate.
Applications of quantum computing
First of all, quantum computing would have the biggest impact on drug discovery industries due to its ability to simultaneously explore all pathways to find the correct solution. Developing new drugs requires going through 60+ atoms, which is a lot. Classical computers would take many years to achieve this, as they can only go through a single trial and error to check if the atoms for the drug are correct. However, quantum computing can explore multiple pathways simultaneously to figure out the atoms, a task that would normally take minutes to solve.
This technology also holds significant potential in machine learning (A.I.). If you want to see how A.I. will change society as well go checkout my other blog check here. If you have used a chatbot, you might have noticed that some questions take time for the system to provide answers, especially when it involves writing an essay or engaging in philosophical discussions. Quantum computing, by going through multiple relevant information banks at once, can gather more information faster and provide quicker responses to queries.
Finally, quantum computing has implications for cryptography (the process of hiding information with the use of codes). If you are a hacker and can afford a quantum computer (good luck with that), this technology might work in your favour. Classical computers take days, months, and even years to decrypt information, but quantum computing can do it in seconds.
Challenges that we face with quantum computers
Now we know how revolutionary quantum computing is, but it will be hard to maintain. This is because qubits are vulnerable to their environment, and any disturbances could cause them to lose their quantum properties, a phenomenon known as qubit decoherence.
Unfortunately, this is not the only challenge we face. We will need to upgrade our software development tools to suit quantum computers. There will be a new need for programming languages and compilers that can utilize these computers. Although engineers have built a couple of quantum computers so far, these new creations are currently in their early stages and have a lot of room for improvement.
Another issue that can arise is the cost of maintenance. Quantum computing is incredibly expensive due to the need for stability. Huge expenditures are required for cooling, building, and maintaining the system, as these computers need to be at absolute zero (−273.15 degrees Celsius). That alone tells us why this is a significant investment.
Quantum Computing in the Future
Quantum computing will bring a significant change to the medical sector, playing a major role in vaccine development. This will work wonders and make diseases no longer a threat. Additionally, impacting the drug industry, quantum computing will make everyday chronic pain, diseases, and mental health complications short-term issues. Just think about it; these machines will save years of research on developing new drugs for complications that currently have no antidote.
The same goes for cryptography; while quantum computing can pose a major threat to traditional encryption, organizations have devised a plan to combat this. Utilizing quantum random number generators (QRNG) enhances the encryption of data to a point where quantum hackers will have a tough time deciphering the information. It’s fighting fire with fire!
The battery sector will also improve rapidly in efficiency and longevity. Quantum capabilities are particularly well-suited for research, allowing us to find solutions to enhance battery life and efficiency. This will have a significant impact on manufacturing industries, traffic optimization, A.I., finance, and more. If you want to see other future applications, click here .
Viable ethical concerns
Every good thing comes with its consequences. With quantum computing, there is a risk for people who engage in technological communication, such as sending emails or messages. As I mentioned earlier, hackers could use quantum computing to their advantage, gaining access to sensitive information in communications. So maybe, quantum computing is not such a good idea.
Thats all folks
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