Intel is making some mysterious moves in quantum computing

(TechRadar) Max Slater-Robins writes about what he calls Intel’s mysterious moves in quantum computing. IQT-News summarizes below.
Intel has shipped a “mysterious quantum computing device” to the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), in an interesting development in the company’s bid for quantum supremacy.
According to the ANL, Intel’s contribution will slot into a broader quantum computing test that’s being run at the lab.
“The machine will be the first major component installed in Argonne’s quantum foundry, which will serve as a factory for creating and testing new quantum materials and devices,” says ANL’s Leah Hesla. “It is expected to be completed this year.”
ANL’s Q-NEXT scientists will use Intel’s quantum technology to run algorithms on its test bed, rather than a simulated environment, which both helps ANL and Intel assess where its quantum abilities are at.
Intel and ANL have been pretty vague on what, exactly, their computational power is going to be used for, which is understandable given the embryonic nature of the space itself. Intel has so far manufactured samples of its 22nm quantum chips, which it calls Horse Ridge I and II.

Sandra K. Helsel, Ph.D. has been researching and reporting on frontier technologies since 1990.  She has her Ph.D. from the University of Arizona.