Quantum computing is creating the future – here’s how
A new generation of computers, dubbed “quantum computers,” is making big waves, revolutionizing major industries like artificial intelligence and drug discovery.
“We’re going to discover new materials, new pharmaceuticals, new phases of matter. Maybe we’ll solve problems in astronomy and cosmology and particle physics using quantum computers that we can’t even approach today,” says Daniel Lidar, professor of electrical and computer engineering, chemistry, and physics and astronomy at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.
Lidar, who holds the Viterbi Professorship in Engineering, and Rosa Di Felice, associate professor of physics and astronomy at USC Dornsife, recently sat down to discuss the potential and challenges of this computing revolution.
The discussion was part of a Feb. 28 Dornsife Dialogues event moderated by USC Dornsife Interim Dean and Professor of Physics and Astronomy and Chemistry Moh El-Naggar.
How it works: Quantum computing uses quantum mechanics to process information in ways that classical computers cannot. Unlike traditional computers, which use bits (0s and 1s), quantum computers use qubits, which can exist in multiple states at once, allowing them to solve complex problems much faster.
Why it matters: Di Felice and Lidar predict that, in the next five to 10 years:
- Quantum simulation will assist in drug discovery, advance our understanding of diseases, and find better medical treatments. Lidar recently used quantum computing to help uncover a gene that plays a role in whether someone develops severe symptoms from COVID-19.
- It will be used to create better building materials for airplanes and other machinery, an area of study Di Felice has already made strides in.
- Advances in quantum machine learning will greatly accelerate AI’s capabilities by generating enormous amounts of novel data for AI systems to train on.
Of note: USC was an early adopter of quantum computing. In 2011, it became the first university in the United States to host a quantum computing system, the D-Wave One, housed at the USC Center for Quantum Information Science and Technology. Both Lidar and Di Felice conduct research using this system along with their students.
Find a transcript of this audio here under the transcript tab.
Yes, but: The encryption standard widely used today in banking, government and online transactions relies on the difficulty of factoring large prime numbers – a task that quantum computers could soon make trivial.
- Post-quantum cryptography aims to create encryption methods that can withstand quantum attacks. Global institutions are investing heavily in this area to ensure future security standards remain robust.
Opportunity: In addition to its groundbreaking quantum research, USC is also training the field’s future pioneers. USC Viterbi offers a Master’s Degree in Quantum Information Science. Degrees in math, physics or chemistry offered by USC Dornsife can lay the important groundwork for those who want to join in on the discoveries.
In her words: “I’m looking forward to seeing our young researchers mature and become the creative minds to suggest new ideas,” says Di Felice.