Analysis: Why the Quantum Computing Race Is Heating Up
Quantum computing is emerging as one of the world's most important technologies, with the US and China ramping up efforts to gain an advantage. To understand why the technology is becoming a national priority, TaiwanPlus speaks with Ching-Ray Chang, director of the Quantum Information Center at Chung Yuan Christian University.
Quantum Computing: The Next Technology Battleground
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REPORTER:
The race for dominance in quantum computing is accelerating. A new US executive order calls for an updated quantum policy, meant to counter China's progress in the field. Officials say that quantum computing could become a key strategic battleground in the technology race.
To learn more about this growing technology, our reporter Lily LaMattina speaks to Ching-ray Chang, director of the Quantum Information Center at Chung Yuan Christian University.
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Chang: Quantum works differently from digital computers
Ching-Ray Chang (CHAIR PROFESSOR, CHUNG YUAN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY):
We use the digital computer to analyze the universe in a digital way. However quantum computing is very different philosophy and methodology. They actually is not a you know, designed by digital one and zero. They actually have a very unique property we call the superposition. we usually use a sphere to to describe this situation. The digital computer only can describe the north and the South pole, one and zero. However, the combination of the one and zero all together is the whole sphere, the surface of the whole sphere. So, they can cover more, more spectrum and solve the problem in a totally different way.
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Chang: Quantum to help AI drive breakthroughs
Ching-Ray Chang (CHAIR PROFESSOR, CHUNG YUAN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY):
Actually, the quantum computer will not replace the digital computer because actually they are in a complementary way.
So the future data center, actually the quantum computer and the supercomputer definitely will be fused together to solve all problems. And right now, AI uses a digital computer model. So we, we, we say the current stage is AI for quantum because we use AI to help the quantum to accelerate to their development. But when the quantum computer becomes more mature, we, we now expect probably after 20, 30 or 35, they will become quantum for AI, use the quantum to help AI to do a lot of things which we cannot do right now, including material design, drug design, and also the finance problem.
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Chang: Taiwan can catch up in quantum
Ching-Ray Chang (CHAIR PROFESSOR, CHUNG YUAN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY):
So the National Science Council actually start up the national quantum research project actually only five years ago. But however, if if you see when the world start to do the quantum computer 2021, the whole world is celebrating 40 years anniversary of quantum computer research. And in 2021, we just started national program. So in certain way, we need a lot of, you know, investment in future to catch up the leg. Yeah. But we since we have the very good semiconductor, you know, uh, foundation. So in a certain way, if we work harder, we should be able to catch up fast.
