Sony, Guessing Games, Startup Funding

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Your weekly roundup of the biggest breakthroughs in Quantum Computing.

Sony has made its first foray into quantum computing by investing in Quantum Motion, a UK-based quantum computing firm. The move aims to bolster Sony's expertise in silicon quantum chip development and pave the way for quantum computers in the Japanese market. Quantum Motion utilizes qubits based on standard silicon chip technology, which enables efficient mass production. The investment from Sony Innovation Fund and other companies will support Quantum Motion's progress in building scalable arrays of qubits. This investment provides Sony access to quantum chip design and manufacturing expertise and a potential entry point into the burgeoning Japanese quantum computing market.

China has unveiled two quantum cloud platforms, Zuchongzhi 2 and Quafu, allowing public access to its quantum computers. These platforms enable researchers and students to experience the computing power of quantum machines and conduct scientific research. Despite facing US sanctions on quantum technology, China aims to compete with international quantum cloud service providers. The move is part of China's efforts to develop its quantum industry and make advancements in quantum computing.

Scientists at RIKEN have successfully connected two distant silicon spin qubits, a major step in scaling up quantum computers. Using a technique called coherent spin shuttling, they overcame the challenge of linking far-apart quantum dots, bringing us closer to larger and more powerful quantum computers based on silicon quantum dots. This achievement opens up possibilities for future advancements in quantum computing technology.

Researchers at the University of Southern California have demonstrated that quantum computers can outperform classical computers in a "bitstring guessing game." By using a technique called dynamical decoupling to reduce errors, the quantum computers achieved faster performance as the complexity of the problem increased. Although classical computers currently solve the problem faster, the study highlights the potential of quantum computers to surpass them with proper error control. The findings emphasize the advantage of quantum computing in terms of time efficiency for solving complex problems.