Intel’s Clarke Expresses An Optimist’s View of the Four Challenges to Quantum Computing

(SpectrumIEEE) Intel’s Jim Clarke contributed a guest post expressing his optimistic views on quantum computing while also addressing the most important challenges. Clarke explained, “The technical challenges are very difficult, but the promise is too great to quit so early in the quantum computing marathon.
Clarke explained that Intel is taking a pragmatic view of quantum computing and that its enterprise and high-performance computing customers are already asking for this capability. He also wrote that “However, quantum computing is still most certainly in the research stage. It may never work. But we all see the enormous opportunities and they are worth pursuing.”
Clarke discussed a perspective published in IEEE Spectrum that suggested that quantum computing will never materialize. Its main argument was that quantum computing will require control over an exponentially large number of quantum states, and that this amount of control is too difficult to achieve.
As both a quantum computing optimist and as a realist who has seen how long it takes for new semiconductor technologies to come to market, I recognize where the concern is coming from, but I believe it is still far too soon to say we’ll “never” realize the promise of quantum computing.
I believe there are four key challenges that could keep quantum computing from becoming a reality.
1. Qubit Quality
2. Error Correction
3. Qubit Control
4. Too Many Wires.