With the rise of artificial intelligence technology trends, the demand for faster computation has become more needed than ever, thus, quantum artificial intelligence computation exists for that reason.
Quantum computing is a type of computing that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to perform operations on data. In contrast to traditional computing, where the data is represented in binary form, which means that it is expressed in terms of 1s and 0s, quantum computing data is represented in quantum bits, or qubits which qubits themselves can exist in multiple states at once, allowing quantum computers to perform certain types of calculations much faster than classical computers.
In Australia, quantum computing has become a strong historical pedigree for the quantum technology sector due to the plentiful innovation and invention in quantum computing Australia.
A brief history of Australian quantum computing achievements
Started in 1998, a postdoc from UNSW, Dr Bruce Kane, published a paper on the potential for using silicon for quantum computing based on phosphorus atoms which later inspires the establishment of the National Centre for Quantum Computing, now called the Centre for Quantum Communications, the oldest national quantum centre in the world that is focused on applications in silicon and photonics.
This then created a strong research focus at UNSW on the potential of silicon quantum computing which has ultimately led to the formation of companies such as SQC and Dirak.
In 2003, Professor Vicki Sara who later became the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Research Council established the Centres of Excellenceー a program that pushes innovative and cutting-edge research in the county.
Plenty of postgraduates have also contributed to this field such as Dr Christian Weedbrook (University of Toronto; PhD UQ and CQC2T) who is also a founder of a quantum startup, Xanadu.
What needs to be part of the quantum computing field
If quantum computing sounds interesting to you, you might be eager to find where to start. Fortunately, Classiq, a quantum computing software platform, shares a few hints with those who are interested in this field.
Several hints that they recommend are:
- Choosing the right major. While the most relevant majors are physics, maths, and computer science, another practical major such as electrical engineering is a good choice as well.
- Read a lot. There are dozens of publicities in the field of quantum computing and reading tons of them helps better understand what this field is.
- Decide on a book that you’d read cover-to-cover. A recommendation from Classiq is a book titled “Quantum Computation and Quantum Information” by Michael Nielsen and Isaac Chuang.
- Do some open-source programming and write quantum codes. Starting early helps you familiarise yourself with what you are getting into. Contributing to the open-source software framework is also a really good way to become part of the community.
- Ask questions and engage in discussion. While small, the quantum computing community is very friendly and is very open to those who share the same passion.
Quantum computing jobs and Companies in Australia
There are several quantum computing companies in Australia and here are our three notable companies that you might interest in:
1. Silicon Quantum Computing
The SQC was founded in 2017 and is jointly owned by the Australian Commonwealth Government, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Telstra, UNSW Sydney, and the NSW State Government.
The company operates from new laboratories within CQC2T’s headquarters at UNSW in Sydney, Australia and is focused on building a silicon quantum computer by commercialising world-leading research produced at Australia’s Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology (CQC2T).
2. Q-CTRL
Another quantum computing company founded in 2017 is Q-CTRL. The company was founded by Michael Biercuk, a Professor of Quantum Physics at the University of Sydney.
Q-CTRL focuses on developing software to help reduce errors in quantum hardware. One of its advertised hardware is Fire Opal, an out-of-the-box solution for minimising error and boosting algorithmic success on quantum computers with the promise of being a simple and fully automated solution suitable for any user.
3. Diraq
Diraq is a Sydney, Australia-based quantum startup that came out in May 2022 as a spinoff from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and the intellectual property and capital equipment related to Silicon Quantum Computing’s SiMOS technology.
Its main focus is on building fault-tolerant quantum computers and has been maintaining 28 patents and patent applications across major jurisdictions. It currently aims to develop silicon quantum processor chips at nanometre scales.
Summary
As AI’s are facing rapid growth for the last couple of years, the demand for faster computers increases and therefore quantum computing attempts to solve the issue.
Australia has been well known for its quantum computing achievements and several active companies are focusing on that field such as the SQC, Q-CTRL, and Diraq.
While there are no exact studies or majors solely focusing on quantum computing alone, those who are interested in this field have several options to choose from; such as physics, maths, computer science, and electrical engineering.
