Honeywell: Yep, Our Sweet Quantum Computer Is the Blue Ribbon Winner
July 25, 2020
Who has the world’s fastest quantum computer? Is it IBM, Microsoft, Apple, or Google? No, none of these companies have that claim to fame. According to The Motley Fool that honor belongs to, “Honeywell Unveils The World’s Fastest Quantum Computer.” Quantum computers are still reserved for companies, universities, and governments with deep pockets, but Honeywell’s newest machine is making them one step closer to commercial use.
IBM used to own the fastest quantum computer, but Honeywell’s device has a process with 64 quantum volume. IBM’s machine only has 32 quantum volume capability. The Honeywell quantum computer processes six cubits. A cubit is a quantum computing unit that stores and processes more than ones and zeros. Most computers are still limited to the famous ones and zeros from binary code. Honeywell’s computer also has a 99.997% fidelity score, meaning it can compute simulations and calculations of high quality.
Quantum computers are still in a state similar to the behemoths that dominated basements last century. Ironically, quantum computers are large themselves:
“The Honeywell system is another step forward in a long and difficult process. Scientists expect quantum computers to handle problems that are essentially unsolvable with current technology in fields such as cryptography, weather forecasting, artificial intelligence, and drug development. However, that future lies many years ahead. These are very early days in the development of usable quantum systems.”
Honeywell does not claim to have the best quantum computer, only the fastest. At doing what exactly?
Whitney Grace, July 25, 2020