[Tech Talk] Even in the Quantum Computing Era... 'Semiconductors' Won't Die

Quantum Computer 30 Trillion Times Faster Than Conventional Computers
Dependence on 'Conventional Semiconductors' Even If Commercialized
Quantum Error Correction Requires Massive Computing
NVIDIA, Xilinx Likely to Benefit

When looking at photos of objects commonly called 'quantum computers,' their appearance is vastly different from that of conventional computers. Inside a large brass-colored plate, dozens of bundles of cables are tangled together.

If quantum computers, which are said to be vastly faster than traditional computers, become commercialized, it might seem like the 'silicon semiconductors' we have used so far will become relics of the past.

However, in reality, the opposite is more likely. Since quantum computers are a new and unfamiliar technological domain, they rely on the technology of conventional semiconductor computer chips that we have used until now.

30 Trillion Times Faster Than Traditional Computers... But Quantum Computers Are Vulnerable to 'Noise'

Quantum computer developed by IBM [Image source=IBM]

Conventional computers operate using electrical signals. They store data in units called 'bits,' distinguished as 0s and 1s. In contrast, quantum computers operate based on 'qubits,' quantum materials where 0 and 1 are superimposed. Because of this, quantum computers are known to boast computational speeds up to 30 trillion times faster than traditional computers.

However, quantum computers are as vulnerable as they are fast. This is a characteristic stemming from the unique superposition state of quantum mechanics; unlike regular bits, qubits quickly disperse even with extremely small 'noise.'

The noise mentioned here includes not only ordinary sounds but also subtle gravitational waves and various wavelengths. Therefore, to properly operate quantum computers, it is necessary to stabilize qubits and correct broken qubits through so-called 'Quantum Error Correction (QEC)' technology.

Quantum Computers Cannot Operate Alone... The Trend Is 'Hybrid Computing'

NVIDIA's 'Cuquantum' provides algorithms necessary for simulations and other tasks to solve the noise problem in quantum computers.
[Image source=NVIDIA]

Here, 'traditional computers' reappear. QEC involves continuously simulating the state of qubits inside the quantum computer, detecting errors, and correcting them. Implementing such algorithms requires enormous computing power, and this task is usually performed by supercomputers.

Because of this, current quantum computers are actually a combination of quantum computers and supercomputers. This is called 'Hybrid Quantum Computing (HQC).' And HQC includes computer chips that are very familiar to the general public.

For example, Nvidia, famous for its graphics processing units (GPUs) used in artificial intelligence (AI), is already a major player in the HQC industry. Nvidia develops technology that uses the parallel computing capabilities of GPUs to implement complex QEC algorithms and increase data communication speeds between quantum and conventional computers. Nvidia also develops 'CuQuantum,' a toolkit that integrates related technologies.

Xilinx, a subsidiary of AMD, is another traditional computer chip company active in the quantum computing field. Xilinx is well-known for its 'FPGA' technology, a special chip that enhances data transmission speeds in data centers, and this technology is used as a bridge between quantum and conventional computers.

Even After Quantum Computers Are Commercialized... The Importance of Silicon Semiconductors Remains

Google's quantum computer laboratory. Most of today's quantum computers are being developed as 'hybrid computers' linked with supercomputers.
[Image source=Google]

When the time comes for quantum computers to be commercialized, it is highly likely that far more conventional semiconductors will be needed. Many deep-tech startups aiming for quantum computer commercialization today actually conduct research in the conventional semiconductor domain.

Riverlane, a leading company in QEC algorithm development, implements a 'QEC decoder' using a self-designed ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit). By connecting this ASIC between quantum and traditional computers, it can process noise threatening qubits much faster than existing methods.

For other established companies, the development of the quantum computer market will present even greater opportunities. Supporting simulation and correction tasks to improve qubit errors will require more central processing units (CPUs) and faster, larger memory chips.

Most noise-canceling technologies for quantum computers are being developed in the form of ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits). The photo shows a chip from the quantum computer decoder startup 'Riverrain'.
[Image source=Riverrain]

Since the transistor was developed in the 1950s, countless types of semiconductors have been created, but not a single field has become obsolete or disappeared. From logic to memory, and even analog semiconductors, all have their own usefulness in real industries.

Quantum computers are also likely to have a positive impact by expanding each other's market share as a component of the vast ecosystem called the 'computer industry,' rather than rendering the entire semiconductor industry obsolete.