Scientists Dubious of Quantum Computing Claims

Dollaz wrote with a link to the International Business Times, which questions the authenticity of D-Wave's Quantum computing. We discussed the 'Sudoku playing' computer yesterday, but scientists in the field have expressed a lot of distrust of the company's findings. The machine was not available for inspection during or after the demo, and even if the technology was working as intended there is some doubt that it can be scaled. The article points out that "notwithstanding lofty claims in the company's press release about creating the world's first commercial quantum computer, D-Wave Chief Executive Herb Martin emphasized that the machine is not a true quantum computer and is instead a kind of special-purpose machine that uses some quantum mechanics to solve problems." Good to see people in the field questioning 'breakthroughs'.

Comments

Uncertainty?

[Quila]

He said all the evidence the company has indicates that the device is performing quantum computations, but he acknowledged there is some uncertainty.

Time to check the cat.

Re:Well DUH

[idontgno]

That's the real problem. Until they look, the computer is in a superpositon of being and not being a quantum processor. They're afraid to look, lest its probability field collapse into an eigenstate of "just marketing hype."

Re:Well DUH

[Profane MuthaFucka]

There is a universe somewhere in which you did not make that joke. And some luckier copy of me gets to live in that universe.

Re:Well DUH

[mikael]

One ptototype Schrödinger box for sale - cat may or may not be included.