Google and NASA buy a quantum computer, to research more intelligent AI

image: universityobserver.ie

Author, Sebastian Anthony of ExtremeTech includes in his post, “the 2nd lab in the world” to own a quantum computer. The lab is called Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab (QAIL). It is located at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley and staffed by both Google and NASA’s scientists.

In this lab, Google and NASA scientists aim to use the quantum computer to develop machine learning. Basically, this is a field in AI that involves computers that autonomously progresses or change their behavior as they gain more experience.

Sebastian Anthony shares that QAIL will be outfitted with a 512-qubit machine that costs 15 million dollars called D-Wave Two.

There is still some debate over whether D-Wave’s machines are actually quantum computers, but at least for a small set of specialized functions, most critics have acquiesced. Before stumping up the cash for the D-Wave Two, NASA, Google, and the USRA (Universities Space Research Association) ran some benchmarks to confirm that the quantum computer actually offers a speed boost over conventional supercomputers — and it passed.

read more at: Google and NASA buy a quantum computer, to research more intelligent AI | ExtremeTech