Study Doubts Quantum Computer Speed 105
Alain Williams writes "The BBC reports that a new academic study has raised doubts about the performance of a commercial quantum computer in certain circumstances. In some tests devised by a team of researchers, the commercial quantum computer has performed no faster than a standard desktop machine. 'The study has been submitted to a journal, but has not yet completed the peer review process to verify the findings. And D-Wave told BBC News the tests set by the scientists were not the kinds of problems where quantum computers offered any advantage over classical types.'"
Messages Missed (Score:3, Insightful)
In other news... (Score:2, Insightful)
Worthless BBC article (Score:4, Insightful)
Since I haven't read the actual paper, I'll give the researchers the benefit of the doubt. But the BBC reporting is terrible. What I got from the story is that a study has demonstrated that this Quantum computer isn't better at everything. Well, duh! Everyone who has even very casually followed Quantum computing knows that they are a new class of computing which can solve a limited set of problems very quickly. I'm really not much wiser after reading this story.
Re:Of course... (Score:4, Insightful)
Yeah, kinda what I was thinking.
Either tell us some of the things this can do faster, or we're going to have to assume this is smoke and mirrors.
If it is a real thing, there must be specific types of problems which can be identified where it is faster, and where that can be demonstrated as being significantly faster.
But if there aren't any of those, one does need to question if their claims are true.
Re:In other news... (Score:5, Insightful)
In more accurate news, Formula One car proves sucky at handling the monthly grocery shop...