John Preskill coined the term “noisy intermediate-scale quantum” (NISQ) in a 2018 presentation on quantum computing. One wonders whether the Caltech physicist realized at the time how extensively the phrase would be used to define one of the most critical steps in science and physics this decade. Preskill told his audience that quantum computers with 50 to 100 qubits would likely be possible within four years, but the limited control over those qubits—the “noisy” aspect of NISQ—would severely restrict the usefulness of NISQ-era quantum computers.
Fast-forward to a December presentation at Q2B Silicon Valley in which Preskill wondered whether the NISQ era was coming to an end, based on his belief that no proposed application for NISQ computing with commercial value had yet emerged and that no applications that do not require error-correction codes would be found.
To find out where we are on the journey from NISQ to fault-tolerant quantum computing, EE Times Europe interviewed experts from Bloc Ventures, Fraunhofer and the Institute of Quantum Control.
To read more, click here.