Chinese tech giant Baidu launched a self-developed quantum computer in Beijing on Friday.
“Qian Shi”, Baidu’s industry-level superconducting quantum computer incorporates its hardware platform with Baidu’s home-grown software stack. On top of this infrastructure are numerous practical quantum applications, such as quantum algorithms used to design new materials for novel lithium batteries or simulate protein folding.
The system, called Qian Shi, which means “the origin of all things is found in the heavens,” is a superconducting quantum computer, which Baidu says is capable of 10 qubits of processing power. The search provider is billing the system a research platform that will allow users to explore practical applications for quantum computing without requiring direct access to the physical hardware.
The quantum computer can be accessed by a Baidu app from the Apple, Huawei or Xiaomi stores. Users can download the software and send their own computing task, such as a quantum circuit experiment, to Qian Shi.
China’s leading quantum scientist said there were high hopes for the new system because it was a brave first step towards bringing the futuristic technology out of the laboratory.
“We have already achieved superiority with the performance of quantum computers surpassing supercomputers on specific problems. Further progress, such as programmable quantum computers, needs cooperation from industry leaders and academic researchers,” said Pan Jianwei, a leading quantum scientist with the University of Science and Technology of China.
“With Qianshi users can create quantum algorithms and use quantum computing power without developing their own quantum hardware, control systems, or programming languages,” Runyao Duan, director of the institute for Quantum Computing at Baidu Research, said in a statement.
The development represents the culmination of four years of research and development by Baidu’s Institute for Quantum Computing. The division has already begun work on Qian Shi’s successor, which Baidu says will feature 36-qubit superconducting quantum chip with couplers
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