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On 2016-09-04 18:16, John Clark wrote:<br>
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<div><font size="4">Maybe, but not every computer scientist
would agree. The people at Microsoft's
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Quantum Architectures and Computation
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Group
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think</div>
a 100 Qubit quantum computer could
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simulate nitrogen fixation, something of enormous
industrial and agricultural importance.</font></div>
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<br>
Nice paper. Also manages to show a real problem that is a
low-hanging fruit if we get quantum computers.<br>
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<div class="gmail_quote"><font size="4">I don't think Google
and Microsoft would be spending millions of dollars on it
if they thought quantum computers would never have a
practical application. If they end up being able to do
nothing but factor large numbers that alone would be
enough to make them be of great interest to the NSA, but I
have a hunch they can do much more.</font><br>
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<br>
I never said that they were useless (if they work), just that the
problem class they solve is a more specific one than what we solve
(slowly) using our current computers. <br>
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Most computations done today are likely sorting, matrix operations
and searching. But the ones we care most about tend to be
simulations, and this is where quantum computers could shine. <br>
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<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Dr Anders Sandberg
Future of Humanity Institute
Oxford Martin School
Oxford University</pre>
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