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Quantinuum, one of the world’s biggest names in quantum computing, has announced what it is calling a “groundbreaking Generative Quantum AI framework (Gen QAI)” and the first use of quantum-generated data for AI.
“We are at one of those moments where the hypothetical is becoming real and the breakthroughs made possible by the precision of this quantum data generated will create transformative commercial value across countless sectors,” said Dr Raj Hazra, President and CEO of Quantinuum.
Specifically, Quantinuum claims that the Gen QAI framework will help to develop new medicines, provide better predictive modelling of financial markets and optimise global logistics and supply chains in real-time.
These are all areas that benefit from a merger of classical and quantum computing, which is where immediate dividends will be reaped. That’s because standalone quantum computers currently have hundreds (at most) of qubits, when many in the industry believe that we need hundreds of thousands of qubits to be a meaningful quantum computer.
The key to the Gen QAI framework comes from data. Generative AI services such as Midjourney work because they have been trained on immense amounts of data so that patterns can be recognised and replicated. But there are many areas where we don’t have raw data on which to train Gen AI models.
“The generation of meaningful synthetic data, specifically when you do not have many training data, is nontrivial and we see it as a new era for AI unlocked by quantum technologies,” said Dr Thomas Ehmer from the Healthcare business sector of Merck KGaA, Germany.
“The Helios system, launching later this year will hopefully enable AI to be used in unprecedented ways and unlocking transformative potential across industries,” he added.
In short, Quantinuum’s H2 quantum computer can generate data sets that will train and improve Gen AI models that previously did not have enough data to be trained on.
The most enticing early example of Gen QAI in action was given by Enzo Ferrari, Chairman of HPE Group. “We are thrilled about our collaboration with Quantinuum,” he said, “leveraging quantum-generated data for applications such as battery development, aerodynamic optimization and fuel innovation.”
Quantinuum believes that its upcoming Helios system, due for release in mid-2005, “will enhance and accelerate the use of Metallic Organic Frameworks for drug delivery, paving the way for more efficient and personalized treatment options”.
It’s a much-needed shot in the arm for the nascent quantum computing industry, with shares sent tumbling when Nvidia CEO and Founder Jensen Huang said we were 20 years away from “very useful quantum computers” in early January.
“If you kind of said 15 years… that’d probably be on the early side,” he added. “If you said 30, it’s probably on the late side. But if you picked 20, I think a whole bunch of us would believe it.”
While that prediction may yet come true, Quantinuum’s announcement suggests that quantum computing still has a valuable role to play in the intervening years.
