WTF Is Quantum Computing? A 5-Minute Primer

CB Insights' Research Team has been diving deep on funding to quantum computing startups, working in a nascent industry that saw more than 100% growth in dollar investments last year, as well as notable increases in the number of investors and startups in the space.

But some of our 200K+ newsletter readers pointed out that it would be helpful to have a primer with a high-level view on quantum computing. If this is you, here we go.

The full article and more can be accessed for free on the CB Insights blog, here.

1) What are quantum computers? 

Quantum computers rely on naturally occurring quantum-mechanical phenomena — basically two important states of matter known as superposition and entanglement. These states of matter, when harnessed for computing purposes, can speed up our ability to perform computations on complex sets of data.

The important distinction here is that quantum computers are different from traditional computers, which are binary digital electronic computers that rely on transistors.

Transistors?

Transistors — there’s like billions in your smartphone — get switched from being 0 or 1, on or off, to compute information. Quantum computers do not use transistors (or classical bits), instead they use Qubits.

Qubits are the basic unit of information in a quantum computer.

Qubits can be either a -1 or a 1, or have properties of both of these values, which is called superposition. So, right away there’s a whole lot more possibilities for performing computations.

The most advanced quantum computing technology available today can make use of up to 1,000 Qubits.

Additionally, the Qubit can leverage a state known as quantum entanglement, whereby pairs or groups of quantum particles are linked so that each particle cannot be described independently of the others, even when the particles are separated by a large distance; opposite ends of the universe for example.

Einstein called this “spooky action at a distance” and it’s the theoretical basis for quantum teleportation.

At this point you may be wondering, what’s really in that pipe, Albert?

But don’t worry…

What matters (to those of us who aren’t quantum physicists) is that thanks to Qubits and the phenomena of superposition and entanglement, a quantum computer can process an immense amount of computations simultaneously, and much faster than a classical computer.

2. What are the practical applications of this stuff? 

For that answer and more on quantum computing, check out the full article here.