The Hype and Reality Surrounding Quantum Computers: Can You Buy One Now?

As the world of technology continues to advance, quantum computers have gained significant attention. In this article, we will explore whether you can buy a quantum computer today and what exactly these computers are capable of.

Can You Buy a Quantum Computer Now?

"Yes, you can buy a quantum computer today," is a straightforward answer. However, the current offerings are very different from what you might imagine. The cheapest available, such as those from D-Wave, start at around $50,000 and can run up to the millions. But are these computers truly 'quantum' and useful?

Reality of Quantum Computers

Quantum computers are real, and many are found in research labs worldwide. They are, however, extremely expensive, expensive to cool, and impractical for everyday use.

These computers require expensive cooling systems because their essential components must operate at extremely low temperatures. Setting up a place in your home where one can run might be possible, but it would involve significant utility costs and specialized facilities.

Limited Practicality and Educational Tools

While it's possible to buy experimental devices with just a couple of qubits, these are more educational toys than practical tools. With more qubits, custom-built systems can be even more expensive and still lack practical applications. Additionally, quantum computers do not come with familiar operating systems like Windows or Linux, and their programming languages are complex and entirely different from traditional computer languages.

The Quest for True Quantum Computers

The concept of a 'true' quantum computer is one that is scalable in terms of qubits. These machines would be capable of expansion with more qubits when necessary. Currently, no such system exists, nor is it guaranteed to ever exist. This is because of fundamental physics principles and the threshold theorem.

The threshold theorem is a significant barrier in building effective quantum computers. It essentially states that if decoherence (interference from the environment) is kept below a certain threshold, error correction algorithms can help the system emulate a perfect quantum computer with fewer qubits. However, this threshold has proven to be elusive, and most existing quantum computers do not meet it.

Market Speculation and Skepticism

Despite the challenges, many companies are investing billions in the possibility that existing systems can be improved to beat the threshold theorem. However, many in the field, including the author, are skeptical that such a breakthrough will occur.

Current Offerings

Today, true scalable general-purpose quantum computers do not exist. What you can buy are experimental devices that have limited practicality and certain systems designed for specific tasks, such as D-Wave's quantum annealer. These systems are more like educational tools and have no practical application without the infrastructure required to support them.

Conclusion

While you can certainly buy something labeled as a 'quantum computer,' it's essential to understand exactly what you are getting. Many of these devices are at the experimental stage and lack the scalability needed for true practical general-purpose quantum computing. The future of quantum computing remains uncertain, and significant challenges must be overcome for true quantum computers to become a mainstream reality.