Do we need Quantum support in Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
Artificial intelligence is one of the key digital technologies, but it requires intensive computing power. For experimental development and deployment in new AI applications, the computing time needed is ever increasing. The power available with classical computers doubles every 18 months, while the effort required to develop AI doubles every 3.5 months. Therefore, both research and industry are urgently looking for new ways to meet the ever-increasing computational demand in AI with new hardware.
Special AI hardware is already being used to meet the increasing demand for computing capacity, e.g., graphics cards (GPU) as AI accelerators or neuromorphic chips. A real “quantum leap” in terms of required computing power is expected from quantum computing. Combining QC and AI offers the opportunity to integrate the forward-looking benefits of QC into commercial applications. QC can make AI significantly more powerful, such as analyzing the complex systems in business and industry with machine learning and handling complicated simulation and optimization problems.
The first quantum computers are already commercially available or are about to be launched. In the next few years, quantum computers may solve problems for which traditional computers are practically out of the question, the so-called quantum advantage. Currently, so-called noisy intermediate-scale quantum computers (NISQ computers) are still being used. These have the disadvantage that they cannot yet achieve the reliability of classical computers.
While these reliability deficits are problematic in many areas, AI often thrives on random variation in the calculations. Today, this is generated at great expense on classical computers. However, it is already quite natural for NISQ systems. Therefore, in the future, further progress towards error-corrected or error-free quantum computers and particular quantum AI accelerator hardware for quantum-assisted AI (QAI) algorithms can be expected.
There is great potential for Countries if the development of quantum-assisted technologies and QAI applications are focused intensively and at an early stage. Accordingly, making these new technologies understandable to decision-makers and making them available to the industry without significant hurdles is essential. Furthermore, building up expertise in developing and using QAI will create innovative power in industry and business. Therefore, this article aims to introduce the new technology field of quantum-assisted AI and its potential, highlight possible applications, present the state of research and ongoing example projects, and provide further recommendations for action.
The text is an excerpt from the book “Quantum Computing & Artificial Intelligence — The Perfect Match?” — Available on Amazon(0.99$)
