How to explain Quantum Computing to a Beginner?

Imagine you have a regular computer that uses “bits” to process information. Each bit can be a 0 or a 1, like a light switch being either off or on. This lets computers do math and solve problems.

Now, think about a magical computer called a quantum computer. Instead of regular bits, it uses “qubits.” Qubits are like super-powered bits because they can be 0, 1, or both 0 and 1 at the same time! This is called “superposition,” and it’s like having a light switch that’s both off and on all at once.

But that’s not all! Qubits can also get “entangled.” This means that if you change the state of one qubit, the other qubit changes too, no matter how far apart they are. It’s like having two magic light switches that always flip together, even if they’re in different rooms.

Because of these amazing tricks, quantum computers can solve certain problems way faster than regular computers. They’re like wizards that can solve really hard puzzles quickly. However, building and using quantum computers is very tricky because these magical qubits are delicate and need special care.

So, in simple words, quantum computing is like using magical bits that can be 0, 1, or both at the same time, and they can also talk to each other no matter how far apart they are. This makes quantum computers super fast at solving some problems that regular computers struggle with.

Quatum Use case

A real-life use case for quantum computing: finding the best route for delivery trucks.

Imagine a company that needs to deliver packages to different places in a city. Figuring out the fastest route for each truck can be really complicated, especially if there are many stops and different possible routes. Regular computers can take a long time to solve this problem if there are a lot of options to consider.

Here’s where quantum computing comes in. Quantum computers are really good at solving optimization problems like this. They can look at all the different routes a truck could take at the same time, thanks to the “superposition” property of qubits. This means they can quickly figure out the best route by checking all options simultaneously.

Also, because quantum computers can process information in a way that regular computers can’t, they can consider things that might be too complex for classical computers to handle. This could include things like traffic conditions changing in real-time or considering a huge number of delivery stops.

So, in this example, a quantum computer could help the delivery company find the best routes for their trucks much faster and more efficiently than a regular computer, which would make the whole delivery process smoother and quicker.

Companies. Using Quantum computing:

1. IBM: Offers cloud access to quantum computers for research and development.
2. Google: Achieved quantum supremacy, advancing quantum computing capabilities.
3. Rigetti: Develops quantum processors and provides cloud-based access.
4. Microsoft: Focuses on quantum research with Quantum Development Kit.
5. Honeywell: Advances trapped-ion quantum computing technology.
6. Alibaba: Researches quantum technologies at Alibaba Quantum Laboratory.