What happens when Google and NASA join forces?

As you may know, Google and NASA came together to purchase a Quantum computer back in 2013. And have recently made some pretty big claims about their D-Wave 2X quantum computer’s ability to solve complex optimization problems in seconds rather than years, or as otherwise stated, ‘100 million times faster than a conventional computer’. According to Hartmut Nevem, the Director of Engineering at Google, “what a D-Wave machine does in a second would take a conventional computer with a single core 10,000 years to perform a similar task.”

But what is a quantum computer?

A quantum computer uses quantum mechanics. While today’s conventional computers’ bits represent either a 1 or a 0, quantum computers’ bits can be both. Which means quits (quantum computing bits) can represent all the values at once and therefore, should be capable of solving massive calculations at much higher speeds.

The aim for NASA is to solve difficult optimization problems (problems designed for finding the best solution out of all the possible solutions) related to space exploration and missions in aeronautics. Google’s motivation is to solve complex problems that pertain to artificial intelligence.

In order to test the computer’s ability to do so, Google and NASA fabricated an optimization problem to be A/B tested between a single-core computer and the D-Wave. The tests are run by NASA’s Quantum Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (QuAIL) by way of an agreement made between NASA, Google, and the Universities Space Research Association (USRA). However, the collaboration extends beyond the agreed parties and will permit a larger academic community through the USRA, to utilize the D-Wave computer and contribute to the research of its benefits.

With all the hype about quantum computers were curious to find out what kinds of tasks they’ll be able to perform and how this supermachine can be turned into practical technology.