[Hewlberno]

The lack of knowledge and ignorance of quantum computing in this thread is incredible.

Quantum computers do exist.

They are extremely useful and do things that digital computers cannot do. Categorically cannot.

The cynicism in this thread is crazy

[latexr]

Why not list what some of those things are? Links are fine if you’re pressed for time.

I’m not being snarky; I haven’t read much about quantum computing and I am genuinely interested in practical applications.

As it is, your comment just reads as “you people are a bunch of idiots, you’re all wrong and crazy, and I’ll insult you repeatedly but not offer one single corrective argument”. It would be insane for anyone to change their mind based on your comment, you’ll only get people to double down.

[brabel]

As someone who has heard talk about Quantum Computers for over a decade now, and never seen a single actual application, I would be very interested if you could provide examples of where I could make use of them right now for things that I couldn't do with classical computers. If they "do exist" and "are extremely useful" then I believe you have exactly what I am asking in mind?

[constantcrying]

>They are extremely useful and do things that digital computers cannot do.

But that is false. A classical computer can simulate a quantum computer. Performance is the difference, not inherent ability.

>The cynicism in this thread is crazy

The cynicism stems from people telling others that practical quantum computers will change the world for at least a decade. Even the URL invokes deep cynicism in me, as it randomly combines Quantum computing with the current hot thing. When will openAI switch to quantum computing for their LLMs? Next year?

[vtomole]

> The cynicism stems from people telling others that practical quantum computers will change the world for at least a decade.

Practical quantum computers will change the world (break RSA 2048). The question is "when". The people who have a timeline of ~10 years instead of decades contribute to what we in our community call "Quantum hype" and it's very much frowned upon by most of the members in the community.

> combines Quantum computing with the current hot thing

The founder of this lab has an illustrious career in machine learning and is now researching how quantum computers can help with that.

[hedora]

How would breaking RSA change the world?

Perhaps via some practical (non-crypto) application of factoring large numbers?

[vtomole]

Breaking RSA changes the world by breaking crypto and implicitly by moving protocols to post-quantum crypto, which is already happening https://security.apple.com/blog/imessage-pq3/.

Quantum computers also change the world by solving circuit-SAT https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circuit_satisfiability_problem more efficiently than classical computers than.

They also change the world by simulating quantum systems efficiently, which classical computers cannot do. This has profound implications for physics.

[saagarjha]

Ok, how about listing some of the stuff they can do?

[eru]

There's a few things they can do better in theory.

But as far as I know none of the existing quantum computers works well enough to achieve that 'quantum supremacy', yet.

So I have no clue what Hewlberno is talking about with their comment.

[bitcharmer]

Are all those extremely useful applications in the room with us right now?

[knifie_spoonie]

I'd really like to see just one example a useful problem that a quantum computer can solve and which classical computers can't.

And I'll qualify that as a real quantum computer which exists in physical form today, not something theoretical in someone's research paper.

[roomey]

I think the problem here is that people are assuming it is just a different type of what we have now, instead of something completely different.

So we have a new tech like Blockchain, it takes a few years and gets really "big".

We have an AI revolution, ok the research has been ongoing for years but it seems like there has been overnight advancement.

I'm sure people are expecting the same with quantum computing, but it's not just a re-use of existing tech (transistors) it is development of brand new tech.

It is better to imagine it as research into fusion power generation. It will take a long time, no one is sure just how useful it will be.

But saying a research quantum computer can't outperform an existing computer is like saying cern can't outperform a coal fired power plant.

Not only two different things, but one of them isn't even designed to generate power.