Anticipating the Disruptive and Incremental Innovations Brought by Quantum Computing

Quantum computing has become one of the most interesting areas of research, training and investment, particularly in the IT-related business sector. This technology will inevitably cause a disruptive innovation effect in the efficiency, economy and efficacy of processes, services and products, thus providing an enormous competitive edge to organizations that use it. However, it requires knowledge of very different areas of scientific disciplines such as mathematics, quantum mechanics, particle physics, electronics and computer science. Of course, it is inevitable that other scientific disciplines and business sectors that are not related to IT will also be affected either directly or indirectly. Organizations such as Google and the US National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) have already begun to use Qbit, which is a new hard and soft technology with new algorithms and an IT environment to handle large-size data. There is now even a search engine that has been developed with quantum computers. As is shown in figure 1, Rigetti Computing has been developing and granting access to an online platform of 8- and 19-qbit processors and, in August 2018, the company committed to developing a 128-qbit quantum computer by August 2019.¹

Source: LaRose, R.; “Review of the Cirq Quantum Software Framework,” Quantum Computing Report, 2019, http://quantumcomputingreport.com/scorecards/review-of-the-cirq-quantum-software-framework/. López, M. A.; M. M. Da Silva; Quantum Technologies: Digital Transformation, Social Impact, and Cross-sector Disruption, Inter-American Development Bank, 2019. Moorhead, P.; “IBM Continues to Invest Big in High-Performance Computing,” Forbes, 6 September 2019, http://www.forbes.com/sites/patrickmoorhead/2019/09/06/ibm-continues-invest-big-in-high-performance-computing/#aad58456c363

Quantum computers tend to be more suitable for artificial intelligence (AI) and large-data processing technologies and will be especially so in the future as an ideal solution for the Super Internet. Although this is a very new area of technology, British scientists believe they have made a key breakthrough in the pursuit of an ultrafast and hyper-secure quantum Internet.² The Super Internet, based on quantum communication, will also allow clocks to be synchronized within 10–20 seconds,³ about a thousand times as precise as the best current atomic clocks.⁴

The aim here is not to give a detailed exploration of quantum computing, but to try to understand its effects on processes, standards, institutions, certifications and, of course, IT professionals. Abstract knowledge of quantum computing advancements and its possible impact on organizational processes, business opportunities and so on is a good place to start. At this early stage, it is worthwhile to look for the quantum-related questions that need answers and the problems that will be encountered in the near future.

Quantum Computers’ Impact as Disruptive Innovation

Though the discovery of quantum mechanics and physics occurred some time ago, there is still a long road ahead to explore. This technology, like classical computers, will somehow become available to all in the near future, but for the time being, it is designed and manufactured exclusively for special tasks. Currently, large organizations such as Google and NASA use quantum computing to achieve specific ends, but there is no way to predict how long before computing requirements evolve and the democratization of quantum computing occurs. As science progresses, technology will progress and quantum computers will turn into ordinary machines. Similarly, in the early days of classic computers, which were the size of a room, the same uncertainty and impossibilities about the ordinary use of those computers existed and are now normal operations on mobile phones. For now, some very large organizations and countries are partnering to share budgets for quantum computing.⁵ Perhaps qbit will stay behind closed doors and serve only major organizations. But maybe qbit will come to homes or get into pockets via mobile devices. When it happens, the classic computing machines will be outmoded, and those enterprises that produce and use quantum computing technology will, undoubtedly, have a great advantage.

AS SCIENCE PROGRESSES, TECHNOLOGY WILL PROGRESS AND QUANTUM COMPUTERS WILL TURN INTO ORDINARY MACHINES.

Qbit’s Proximity to Real Life

The concept of qbit will pave the way for an algorithm to generate a random number. Random numbers are useful for a variety of purposes, such as generating data encryption keys, simulating and modeling complex phenomena, and for selecting random samples from larger data sets. They have also been used aesthetically, for example, in literature and music, and are popular for games and gambling.⁶ With the current technology, even computers and living things do not perform random operations in any way. In various programming languages, the numbers said to be generated randomly in any process of the computer are not truly random. These algorithms and commands can be used by taking data (e.g., the current time of the system), processing them until they appear random and outputting the last datum. When a person is asked for a random number in a moment, the response will be a number that person finds as a result of various associations, formulations and variables. In the known universe, nothing happens without association or reference. Even a person with all of their senses restricted can learn something by connecting the connotations in his or her mind. Since everything in the quantum universe is very different from what is perceived in the known universe, it will be possible to generate random numbers. When the behavior of a particle is measured, the data are already completely random.

The phenomenon called fuzzy logic⁷ seems to be possible only through quantum computers. Everything is clear in the IT world. A value is either there or not. When combined, these units result in a complex appearance that can only camouflage clarity. Basically, everything is exactly certain. Fuzzy logic can be expressed as a more intuitive programming method that is not only black or white, but also all the shades of gray.

While the emergence of quantum computers will provide humanity with a tremendous leap forward in an instant, there is currently no transition to this technology. The work on qbit continues at full speed and new progress is made every day, but human beings do not yet fully understand the applicability of this technology. Even if quantum computing is realized soon, it may take a decade for this technology to enter homes and to be available with mass production to end users. For example, superconductors have almost zero resistance, and their use in the field of technology will lead to tremendous improvements. However, superconductors can exhibit these properties only at very low temperatures. Therefore, they cannot be used in a home environment. They are still dependent on cheap and easy cooling technologies. Quantum computer technology also requires very special conditions for use in the home environment.

FUZZY LOGIC CAN BE EXPRESSED AS A MORE INTUITIVE PROGRAMMING METHOD THAT IS NOT ONLY BLACK OR WHITE, BUT ALSO ALL THE SHADES OF GRAY.

Anticipating the Quantum Leap?

The quantum superiority limit called the 50-qbit is happening much earlier than expected. It is not yet available efficiently, but it is clear that it is only a matter of time. The beryllium hydride simulation of IBM’s 7-qbit system indicates that quantum computers are actively being used not only in the software field, but also in areas with incredible potential such as quantum chemistry. The work of D-Wave with defense giant Lockheed Martin and NASA indicates that quantum computers are already in use in the aerospace sector. The emphasis on quantum calculation is demonstrated by the US$240 million investment made by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA).⁸

INDUSTRIES BASED ON BETTER BATTERIES, MICROCHIPS OR NETWORK ARCHITECTURES CAN EXPLORE QUANTUM COMPUTING TO STIMULATE NEW POSSIBILITIES OR OPTIMIZE EXISTING STRUCTURES.

Quantum computers are machines that are extremely difficult to build. The reason for this is that the different states of a quantum superposition are destroyed or severely reduced by the circumference of the ability to interfere with each other. Quantum behavior is, in fact, a characteristic of things created. The reason this behavior is seen in the microscopic world instead of everyday life is that it is much easier to isolate a small thing from the elements that surround it.

Industries That Can Leverage Quantum Technology

Research on which big enterprises are getting the most benefit from quantum technology delivers some interesting results across multiple industry sectors:

• Finance—The banking sector presents many challenges, including portfolio optimization, asset pricing, risk analysis, fraud detection and market forecasts for quantum computers. The first banks have already begun testing, and they include Barclays, JP Morgan Chase with IBM and NatWest with Fujitsu.⁹
• Insurance—The potential applications of quantum calculation begin with the valuation of financial instruments (e.g., bonds, derivatives), valuation of options and guarantees in insurance products, and measurement of operational risk. Allianz has started experimenting with this technology by partnering with computing software company 1QBit.
• Energy—The two main interconnected problems that quantum computing can solve in the energy sector are to optimize the current network structure and to predict the appropriate energy usage. ExxonMobil has started to experiment with IBM as a quantum partner.¹⁰
• Transportation—The best example of quantum computing is traffic optimization by Volkswagen together with D-Wave. The objective of traffic flow optimization is to minimize the time for a given set of cars to travel between their individual starting points and destinations. Hardware implementations of quantum annealing, such as the quantum processing units (QPUs)¹¹ produced by D-Wave Systems, have been subject to multiple analyses in research, with the aim of characterizing the technology’s usefulness for optimization and sampling tasks.
  According to the German automaker Volkswagen, the quantum system can replace current traffic models that are created by conventional supercomputers. Those systems are hindered by the fact that they can process only so many tasks at a time and traffic has a lot of moving parts (literally) that have to be taken into account, including movement data collected from smartphones and transmitters in vehicles. Volkswagen’s system uses a quantum algorithm to process and optimize all those data and provides more timely and accurate traffic information. Public transportation systems would also be able to better serve riders and spend less time driving around with empty seats. Taxis could cut down on wait times and get to passengers more quickly. And, as autonomous cars are deployed on city streets, the algorithm could help relay important information to those vehicles to put them on the quickest path and keep congestion to a minimum.¹²
  Another example is the traveling salesman problem,¹³ wherein a salesman must visit multiple cities starting from a certain one (e.g., the hometown) and returning to the same city. The challenge is that the traveling salesman wants to minimize the total length of the trip. The traveling salesman problem with all its variants constitutes a good class of problems to try on Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) devices.¹⁴ Here, “noisy” refers to the fact that the devices are disturbed by what is happening in their environment. For instance, small changes in temperature or stray electric or magnetic fields can cause the quantum information in the computer to be degraded—a process known as decoherence. To overcome this, it is necessary to perform error correction—essentially, looking at the system to determine which disturbances have occurred and then reversing them.¹⁵
• Logistics—Operations-related supply chain issues are often nearly impossible to optimize with traditional computers. This is an area that has potential to reap numerous benefits from quantum computing entering into the market. Alibaba has begun to experiment on its own hardware. It is currently building a superconducting quantum computer in its Hangzhou headquarters, and Alibaba wants to reach a point where quantum computing is scalable.¹⁶
• Automotive and aerospace—Management of a large fleet of autonomous driving or flying vehicles creates optimization problems that are rapidly scaled by the number of vehicles. This is why a number of automotive industry players such as Volkswagen, Daimler and Ford are all entering the quantum technology space. The aerospace industry is very active with NASA, Airbus and Lockheed Martin all experimenting with quantum computing on their own and with partners from tech giants to start-ups.¹⁷
• Chemicals and pharmaceuticals—Drug discovery is a very costly process and requires calculations to simulate molecules. Because quantum computers are more suitable for simulating quantum objects, they naturally adapt to quantum quality drug research and development (R&D). Biogen collaborated with Accenture on drug discovery applications of quantum computing.¹⁸ Other organizations investigating the technology include Roche and Dow Chemical.¹⁹
• Materials—Industries based on better batteries, microchips or network architectures can explore quantum computing to stimulate new possibilities or optimize existing structures. Vertical experiments in this sector have been initiated by Bosch and Honeywell.²⁰
• Blockchain and cybersecurity—Blockchain is all about secure transactions and contracts. It is largely based on cryptographic methods and is, therefore, vulnerable to cyberattacks involving the latest technologies. The search for a post-quantum cryptography or quantum blockchain is an area of research working to address future needs. So far, only Accenture has mentioned blockchain together with quantum. However, organizations are developing post-quantum encryption between cybersecurity enterprises, for example, algorithms that are safe to work with the powerful quantum computers of Microsoft or Google.

GLOBAL COLLABORATIONS WILL BE REQUIRED AND SHOULD BE SUPPORTED DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF QUANTUM COMPUTING SYSTEMS.

Preparing for the Changes and Challenges Quantum Computers Bring

Many large organizations have been developing strategies for quantum opportunities, e.g., IBM announced the IBM Q Network²¹ and IBM Q Consulting, which are committed to accelerating and scaling quantum computing by partnering with industries and fostering a growing ecosystem.²² There are some tips for quantum preparedness that organizations should consider:

• Find a partner who can introduce an organization to the quantum field. Currently, there are dozens of start-ups and organizations that provide quantum computing services, either in niche business branches or in general.²³
• Develop forward-thinking road maps including strategic and actionable next steps, which should be done as part of innovation and strategic management activities.²⁴
• Understand what quantum computing is and how a business can benefit from this fundamentally new computing technology. This step is critically important for prudent business strategy development.
• Identify business areas in enterprises where quantum computing can offer strategic advantages.
• Quantify potential business value when applying quantum computing solutions.

Conclusion

Quantum computing technology will have a powerful impact on and lead to significant changes in a number of industries such as security, aviation/aerospace, chemistry, pharmaceutical, financial services and even AI.²⁵ It is likely to be used actively in the 2020s. The operation and use of quantum computers depends on many computer sub-industry technologies, some of which are almost as difficult to produce as quantum processors. Quantum computing brings about significant changes in organizational and process management dimensions. Global collaborations will be required and should be supported due to the complexity of the development and implementation of quantum computing systems.

IT auditors, risk managers and cybersecurity practitioners should ask themselves these basic questions to prepare for the next decade:

• Will a quantum version of COBIT be developed, perhaps “QOBIT”? If so, it will require a multidisciplinary working group . A framework for the governance of quantum computing will be necessary.
• Will a quantum approach be needed in governance and management processes? If the data processing methodology and speed change with disruptive innovation, the paradigms will change. Governance and management processes should be reviewed in this context.
• Will Certified Quantum Security Specialist (CQSP) be added to certificates such as Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC), and Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT® (CGEIT)? Assuming that quantum computers become widespread, security processes, software and hardware processes will also change. Specialized security personnel will be required to understand the risk of these systems.
• When should a conference be held in preparation for the devastating innovations of quantum technology? It is necessary to try to raise the level of consciousness of colleagues and members by organizing a conference in this area. The benefit would be starting work as soon as possible.

Some discussion of quantum has already started, but more leadership and education is needed.

Endnotes

¹ Rigetti, C.; “The Rigetti 128-Qubit Chip and What It Means for Quantum,” Medium, 8 August 2018, http://medium.com/rigetti/the-rigetti-128-qubit-chip-and-what-it-means-for-quantum-df757d1b71ea
² Pinkstone, J.; “A Super-Fast ‘Quantum Internet’ for Everyone Is One Step Closer to Reality as British Researchers Make a Major Breakthrough,” Daily Mail, 31 October 2018, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6338899/A-super-fast-quantum-internet-one-step-closer-reality.html
³ Kómár, P.; E. M. Kessler; M. Bishof; L. Jiang; A. S. Sørensen; J. Ye; M. D. Lukin; “A Quantum Network of Clocks,” Nature Physics, 2014, p. 582–587, http://www.nature.com/articles/nphys3000?WT.ec
⁴ Lucy, M.; “The Quantum Internet Is Already Being Built,” Cosmos, 13 April 2018, http://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/the-quantum-internet-is-already-being-built
⁵ Fomen, H-V.; “Quantum Computing: A Review of Investments in 2018,” Insights, 2018, http://www.leyton.com/blog/?p=3374-quantum-computing-review-investments-2018
⁶ Haahr, M.; “Introduction to Randomness and Random Numbers,” Random.org, http://www.random.org/randomness/
⁷ Hannachi, S.; Y. Hatakeyama; K. Hirota; “Emulating Qubits With Fuzzy Logic,” Journal of Advanced Computational Intelligence and Intelligent Informatics, vol. 11, iss. 2, 2007
⁸ Massachusetts Institute of Technology, “IBM and MIT to Pursue Joint Research in Artificial Intelligence, Establish New MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab,” 7 September 2017, http://news.mit.edu/2017/ibm-mit-joint-research-watson-artificial-intelligence-lab-0907
⁹ The Qubit Report, “Barclays, JP Morgan Chase; Barking at and Chasing Quantum Computing for the Financial Leap Ahead,” 24 April 2019, http://qubitreport.com/quantum-computing-algorithms-and-software/2019/04/24/7760/
¹⁰ Chojecki, P.; “Quantum Computing for Business,” Towards Data Science, 17 January 2019, http://towardsdatascience.com/quantum-computing-for-business-347b95d400f9
¹¹ Neukart, F.; G. Compostella; C. Seidel; D. von Dollen; S. Yarkoni; B. Parney; “Traffic Flow Optimization Using a Quantum Annealer,” Frontiers in ICT, 20 December 2017, http://doi.org/10.3389/fict.2017.00029
¹² Dellinger, A. J.; “Volkswagen Wants to Use Quadum Computers to Optimize Traffic,” Engadget, 5 November 2018, http://www.engadget.com/2018/11/05/volkswagen-quantum-computer-traffic-management/
¹³ GeeksforGeeks, “Traveling Salesman Problem | Set 1 (Naive and Dynamic Programming,” http://www.geeksforgeeks.org/travelling-salesman-problem-set-1/
¹⁴ For this kind of technology, researchers are needed. Consider a vacancy announcement example from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
¹⁵ Ackermann, T.; J. Preskill; “Noisy Intermediate Scale Quantum (NISQ) Technology,” 17 October 2018, http://www.bgp4.com/2018/10/17/noisy-intermediate-scale-quantum-nisq-technology/
¹⁶ Sun, Y.; “Why Alibaba Is Betting Big on AI Chips and Quantum Computing,” MIT Technology Review, 25 September 2018, http://www.technologyreview.com/s/612190/why-alibaba-is-investing-in-ai-chips-and-quantum-computing/
¹⁷ Aron, J.; “Google and NASA Team Up to Use Quantum Computer,” New Scientist, 16 May 2013, http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn23554-google-and-nasa-team-up-to-use-quantum-computer/#ixzz62nB5fIWh
¹⁸ Accenture, “Biogen, 1Qbit and Accenture: Pioneering Quantum Computing in R&D,” 2019, http://www.accenture.com/us-en/success-biogen-quantum-computing-advance-drug-discovery
¹⁹ Strahm, M.; “Will Quantum Revolutionise the Future of Medicine?” Roche Data Science, 2019
²⁰ Gerbert, P.; F. Ruess; “The Next Decade of Quantum Computing and How to Play,” Boston Consulting Group, November 2018, http://image-src.bcg.com/Images/BCG-The-Next-Decade-in-Quantum-Computing-Nov-2018-21-R_tcm9-207859.pdf
²¹ IBM, “IBM Q Network: An Engine for Discovery,” http://www.research.ibm.com/ibm-q/network/overview/
²² IBM, “Building Your Quantum Capability: The Case for Joining an ‘Ecosystem’,” IBM Institute for Business Value, 2018, http://www.ibm.com/downloads/cas/2QPLMXOD
²³ Chojecki, P.; “Quantum Computing for Business,” Medium.com,17 January 2017, http://medium.com/@pchojecki/quantum-computing-for-business-347b95d400f9
²⁴ Hickey, T.; “Let’s Talk Quantum Computing for Business,” IBM Services Blog, 13 December 2017
²⁵ Connett, I.; “The World’s Most Disruptive Technology (That No One Is Talking About),” EvolveTheLaw.com Legal Innovation Center, 15 August 2018, http://abovethelaw.com/legal-innovation-center/2018/08/15/the-worlds-most-disruptive-technology-that-no-one-is-talking-about-part-ii/