Understanding the use case is the best way to grasp the importance of quantum computing, or lack thereof. For such tasks where it can greatly outperform even supercomputers, quantum computing can be beneficial.
Usually, the following use cases are correlated with it: cybersecurity, pharmaceutical growth, financial modeling, battery improvement, cleaner fertilizer, traffic optimization, weather forecasting, climate change, artificial intelligence, solar capture, and the discovery of electronic materials. These problems can also be solved by conventional computing, definitely high-performance computing/supercomputers. Where, then, does quantum computing enter the image?
Many of the public cloud industry suppliers have quantum offers. IBM built a quantum computer on its cloud in 2016. Since then, IBM has extended its quantum computing offering focused on the cloud. Amazon has built and launched its quantum computing services to never be outdone, and Microsoft has announced Azure Quantum, which offers quantum algorithms, hardware, and software. Google is a quantum player as well, of course.
Would you have tried that? The decision is really about effectively matching use cases with quantum computing. I assume that quantum computing is not a good match for accounting or inventory systems where more fine-grained and transactional processing is possible. However, if you are trying to take the accounting or inventory data and create complex financial models that are capable of forecasting the future, it is often a good choice.
Many of these high-performance computing use cases could, but not all of them, be better served by quantum computing. Compared to conventional computing, including high-performance computing in the cloud, the trade-off is the cost. It might not be worth the extra cost and risk unless there is a compelling reason to leverage quantum computing for unique, purpose-built circumstances where there is a clear advantage.
Try to locate quantum computing individuals who can work outside universities, too. On the few occasions that I have been interested in quantum ventures, I’ve tried and failed.
In the cloud, quantum computing is like any new technology. It begins as a niche solution, generally with more expense and risk. Now we’re here. Second, for a limited percentage of applications and data solutions, it is leveraged. Finally, it is yet another offering of public cloud services: one that might have a touch of a price premium, just a fraction of what it was back in 2021.
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