Powerful quantum computers might solve problems you haven’t even thought of yet

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Quantum computing is the next step for computers, and IBM has successfully built, as well as tested, their most powerful machines to date. The computers are said to be so powerful that they have the potential to answer questions no one has even thought of asking yet.

Engadget reports that the two quantum computing platforms IBM built will be capable of calculating for problems that would have proven impossible to solve using classical computers, those that only depend on ones and zeros.

This new approach in computing could be greatly beneficial in the advancement of fields like pharmaceuticals, logistics, financial services, and of course, artificial intelligence.

In a classical computer, computations are done by using a combination of ones and zeros called bits. Using this classic binary system has its limitations when it comes to extremely complex problems. Quantum computers, on the other hand, get over this limitation by using one bit as both a one and a zero. This greatly increases computational capacity beyond what a classic binary system can do. IBM’s quantum computers are currently running with 16 and 17 quantum bit (qubit) processors.

With so much processing power at their fingertips, researchers are still trying to look for ways of maximizing the new quantum computers. For the time being, programmers, developers and researchers are being encouraged to perform their own experiments by requesting beta access through the Software Development Kit on GitHub. An experiment composer is also available for use. Alfred Bayle/JB

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