An Introduction to Quantum Computing…

… and how AI is already revolutionizing the world we know!

In case you haven’t heard already, there is a new star player out there in the world of AI. On the 30th of November 2022 OpenAI released their newest research project ChatGPT (https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/) to the public, and it is seriously mind-blowing!

But this article is not about AI (or is it?), but about an introduction to quantum computing. So let’s start by giving a brief overview of what quantum computing is all about.

Quantum computing in simple terms:
Quantum computing is a type of computing that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to perform calculations and operations on data. In classical computing, data is stored in bits, which are binary units of information that can have a value of either 0 or 1. In quantum computing, data is stored in quantum bits, or qubits, which can exist in a state of 0, 1, or both at the same time, known as a superposition. This allows quantum computers to perform calculations on multiple pieces of data at the same time, potentially making them much faster than classical computers for certain types of calculations.

Who invented quantum computing?
The concept of quantum computing was first proposed by physicist Richard Feynman in the 1980s. However, the field of quantum computing has since grown and developed through the contributions of many researchers and scientists. Some notable figures in the development of quantum computing include David Deutsch, who proposed the first quantum Turing machine; Peter Shor, who developed the first quantum algorithm for factorization; and Lov Grover, who developed the first quantum algorithm for searching an unstructured database. Today, quantum computing is an active area of research and development, with many companies and research institutions working on building practical quantum computers and developing new quantum algorithms and applications.

What is a qubit?
A qubit is the fundamental unit of information in a quantum computer. In classical computing, the basic unit of information is a bit, which can have a value of either 0 or 1. In quantum computing, the equivalent of a bit is a qubit, which can exist in a state of 0, 1, or both at the same time, known as a superposition. This property of qubits allows quantum computers to perform calculations on multiple pieces of data at the same time, potentially making them much faster than classical computers for certain types of calculations. In general, the state of a qubit is determined by a combination of its underlying physical properties, such as its spin or polarization, and the operations performed on it. By applying specific operations, known as quantum gates, to a qubit, it is possible to manipulate its state and perform calculations on it.