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D-Wave Launches Free 'Leap' Quantum Computing Service (ieee.org)

talonyx writes: D-Wave Systems, the contentious but scrappy maker of quantum annealing processors, has launched a cloud-based platform where developers can sign up for free and run problems on their quantum processor unit (QPU). There's an in-depth set of demos, documentation, and an open-source Python SDK to look at. "Leap is the latest addition to the quantum cloud -- services that virtualize quantum computing for almost anyone with a computer and a broadband connection to use," reports IEEE Spectrum. "Leap allows anyone to sign up, giving them one minute of time on a cloud-connected 2000Q each month. That might not sound like much, but a key advantage of quantum computing is to be able to solve in milliseconds problems like factoring large numbers, optimizing routes, or calculating molecular structures that could take traditional computers days or weeks."

"D-Wave estimates that each user's free minute of quantum computing time should be enough to run between 400 and 4,000 jobs each month," the report adds. "If developers want more, the company will charge commercial users $2,000 for one hour of access each month."

2 of 33 comments (clear)

  1. Re:If D-Wave's machines are so fabulous.... by quax · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You would need to reformulate the hash search as a QUBO problem (Quadratic unconstrained binary optimization).

    This is probably impossible. Even if such a mapping existed, chances are it would require a level of connectivity and number of qubits far in excess of what the current chip provides.

  2. Re:If D-Wave's machines are so fabulous.... by OneHundredAndTen · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Has D-Wave been demonstrably able to handle even one problem faster than a classical computer?