Azure Quantum drives data storage improvements with “quantum-inspired” optimization solution

(VentureBeat) Microsoft is upping its focus on the “high promise of quantum technology,” Daniel Stocker, program manager, Azure Quantum technology, told VentureBeat in this interview summarized by IQT-News.

With those data sizes growing and complexity increasing, Azure Quantum built a QIO solution for Azure Storage that’s designed to keep the load on storage clusters uniform while reducing the amount of data that needs to move. Azure Quantum has been supporting the Azure Storage team this year with a quantum-inspired optimization solution, according to Microsoft. Stocker said, “quantum-inspired” refers to running quantum algorithms on classical systems.

The quantum solution has helped Azure storage team increase capacity, efficiency, and predictability, which helps customers get high-quality service from Azure Storage. Stocker said Azure offerings are available for both quantum-inspired and quantum hardware systems on a pay-as-you-go model. Developers can use Python or Microsoft Q#, Microsoft’s open-source language for developing quantum algorithms.

Microsoft pointed to three customers that it says has seen significant results from Azure Quantum.
Trimble uses Azure Quantum to find the most efficient routes for a fleet of vehicles, looking to ensure fewer trucks run empty and maximizing their operating load for each trip.
OTI Lumionics is accelerating materials design with quantum-inspired optimization solutions designed to simulate organic materials used in OLED displays for the design of next generation consumer electronics.
Ford partnered with Azure Quantum to build a QIO-based traffic optimization solution that’s designed to reduce both traffic congestion and travel time by delivering optimized routing to thousands of drivers simultaneously. Preliminary studies show more than a 70 percent decrease in congestion, as well as an 8 percent reduction of average travel time, according to the automaker.

Three customers that have reported significant results with Quantum Azure are:

• Trimble  uses Azure Quantum to find the most efficient routes for a fleet of vehicles, looking to ensure fewer trucks run empty and maximizing their operating load for each trip.
• OTI Lumionics  is accelerating materials design with quantum-inspired optimization solutions designed to simulate organic materials used in OLED displays for the design of next generation consumer electronics.
• Ford partnered with Azure Quantum to build a QIO-based traffic optimization solution that’s designed to reduce both traffic congestion and travel time by delivering optimized routing to thousands of drivers simultaneously. Preliminary studies show more than a 70 percent decrease in congestion, as well as an 8 percent reduction of average travel time, according to the automaker.