Japan-based internet services company SoftBank Corp. and global quantum computing firm Quantinuum announced Wednesday that they have agreed to a wide-ranging partnership in quantum computing.
The duo said in a statement that by combining their respective strengths, both companies will unlock innovative quantum computing solutions that will overcome the limitations of classical artificial intelligence (AI) and realize next-generation technologies.
This unique initiative coincides with the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ) in 2025, and it is expected to ignite new business opportunities through the dynamic fusion of artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing.
It is noted that in this modern era, AI is delivering impressive results across various domains.
However, it is widely recognized that there are still significant challenges that AI alone is struggling to overcome.
Complex optimization problems, deciphering causal relationship analysis, and conducting high-precision simulations based on fundamental equations remain formidable obstacles for current AI technologies.
Moreover, the hybrid approach that combines central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), and quantum processing units (QPUs) holds the potential to further extend the capabilities of AI.
By leveraging the unique strengths of each type of processing unit, hybrid systems can execute more advanced and diverse computations, providing innovative solutions that surpass traditional limitations.
SoftBank and Quantinuum believe in the power of quantum computing and are committed to exploring its transformative potential.
Despite impressive growth in the quantum computing sector, the duo reckoned that several technical and business challenges need to be addressed to advance the state-of-the-art so that quantum computers are used to solve practical problems.
These include building a business model, establishing specific use cases, advancing hardware and software technologies.
SoftBank and Quantinuum said they are committed to addressing these challenges together to advance the practical application of quantum computers.
Firstly, they will conduct a joint market research and business model development for quantum data center.
With a view toward the realization of a “quantum data center” capable of performing advanced calculation processing by combining CPUs, GPUs and quantum computers (QPUs), both companies will use the Japanese market as a foothold to conduct global market research in the Asia-Pacific region and other regions, and explore specific business models based on that research.
Both companies will jointly consider methods to reduce investment risks, such as revenue sharing and cost sharing.
In terms of the construction of quantum use-case timelines and validation, SoftBank will provide its own business challenges as use cases.
Both companies will clarify use cases in quantum chemistry and network analysis, and construct a timeline showing when these use cases will be realized.
In quantum chemistry, the search for new optical switch materials for All Optical Networks is anticipated, while in network analysis, the application to anomaly detection and fraud detection in SoftBank’s communication network is envisioned.
Both companies will also develop software technology that makes effective use of limited hardware resources, and explore methods for linking CPUs, GPUs, and QPUs.
“SoftBank believes in the potential of quantum computers and has been testing and evaluating various internal issues using quantum computers, and has started to obtain certain results. However, as a telecommunications operator, there are still many challenges remaining regarding how to provide quantum computing services in Japan,
“Through our collaboration with Quantinuum, which possesses the world’s highest-performance quantum computer hardware, we aim to be the first in the world to identify problems that can only be solved by quantum computers and look forward to significantly accelerating the practical application of quantum computing,” said Ryuji Wakikawa, Head of Research Institute of Advanced Technology, SoftBank Corp.
Meanwhile, Dr. Rajeeb Hazra, President and Chief Executive Officer of Quantinuum, commented their partnership with SoftBank represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of quantum computing.
“By combining our strengths, we are poised to unlock innovative solutions that will not only enhance the capabilities of AI but also tackle challenges that have long been beyond reach,
“Together, we are laying the groundwork for a future where quantum technologies drive transformative advancements across multiple industries,” he added.
By integrating quantum computing with AI, this initiative is expected to contribute to problem-solving in diverse fields such as healthcare, finance, logistics, and energy. This collaboration not only addresses unsolved challenges but also creates new market opportunities and fosters technological innovation across society, said the statement.
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