Setting the Stage for a Commercial Era of Quantum Computers
Quantum computing has always fascinated me. Since reading Physicist David Deutsch’s Dream Machine article in the New Yorker almost a decade ago, I’ve been enthralled with the possibility of a technological reshuffle, unlocking a new dimension of answers about ourselves, nature, and the universe.
As a lifelong student of physics and computer science, quantum computing represents one of the most critical technologies to support our longevity as humanity. As a Partner at Venrock, a venture capital firm, quantum computing represents the most fundamental speed up in computing power that we have ever encountered, and potential to transform almost every industry and vertical.
The challenge is that quantum computing is always “five to seven years away.”
Always five to seven years away
Every major technology of our era has gone through a perpetual cycle of scientific discovery, engineering for commercial use, and manufacturing for production scale. As new advancements or improvements are discovered, they progress through the same cycle.
- Scientific discovery: The pursuit of principle against a theory, a recursive process of hypothesis-experiment.
- Engineering: Success of the theory and proof of principle…
