Google and XPRIZE have joined forces to launch a groundbreaking competition aimed at discovering practical uses for quantum computers. While existing quantum computers have demonstrated the ability to solve certain problems faster than classical computers, these achievements have yet to translate into real-world applications. With a $5 million prize at stake, Google and XPRIZE hope to bridge this gap and uncover quantum algorithms that can truly benefit society.
In 2019, Google made headlines when it claimed quantum advantage for its Sycamore processor, proving that quantum computers can outperform classical computers in specific tasks. However, these tasks were merely simple benchmarks without any practical implications. Ryan Babbush, a researcher at Google, explains,
There’s a lot of rather abstract mathematical problems where we can prove quantum computers give very, very large speed-ups. But a lot of the research community has been less focused on trying to match those more abstract quantum speed-ups to specific real-world applications, and to try to figure out how quantum computers could be used.
Ryan Babbush
To address this challenge, Google and the XPRIZE Foundation are inviting researchers to develop new quantum algorithms as part of a three-year competition. The goal is to showcase how these algorithms could be applied to existing problems or uncover new applications for quantum computing. The emphasis is not on solving the problems in practice but rather on demonstrating the potential of quantum computing and providing the exact specifications required to implement the algorithms.
Entrants will have their algorithms evaluated based on various criteria, including the potential impact, alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and feasibility of implementation on current or near-future quantum machines. The prize fund of $5 million will be distributed among the winners, runners-up, and semi-finalists.
This competition has the potential to shift the focus of quantum computing research from technical definitions of quantum advantage to practical, real-world uses. Nicolás Quesada, a researcher at Montreal Polytechnic, highlights the importance of the prize, stating:
[The prize is] hitting the nail on the head that this is a very important problem. We need to figure out what to do with a quantum computer.
Nicolas Quesada
However, discovering socially beneficial quantum algorithms requires a deeper understanding of how quantum computers function and how to address challenges such as noise and errors. Bill Fefferman, a researcher at the University of Chicago, points out that this foundational aspect of building quantum computers is not directly addressed by the prize.
While he remains optimistic about the potential of finding useful algorithms, he acknowledges the challenges of implementing them on the current hardware within the next three years.
Bill Fefferman
In conclusion, Google and XPRIZE’s $5 million competition marks a significant step towards unlocking the practical applications of quantum computers. By encouraging researchers to develop quantum algorithms that address real-world problems, this initiative aims to bridge the gap between theoretical quantum advantage and tangible societal benefits. While there are challenges to overcome, such as understanding quantum computer functionality and improving hardware capabilities, the prize serves as a catalyst for innovation and exploration in the field of quantum computing.
