Fujitsu has partnered with Vancouver-based 1QBit to apply quantum-inspired technology to artificial intelligence.
1QBit, which develops hardware-agnostic quantum and quantum-inspired software to solve computational challenges, will work with Fujitsu to develop applications using AI developed for use with quantum computers.
The partnership will focus on areas of combinatorial optimization, the process of finding an optimal object in an extremely large dataset, and machine learning. Eventually, the two companies plan to provide a variety of services that combine 1QBit’s software and expertise in building applications which benefit from the capabilities of quantum computers.
The goal of the partnership is broad. The two companies want to contribute to the creation of new businesses and the transformation of existing businesses by introducing new solutions to the computational challenges facing customers in fields like finance, life sciences, energy, retail, and distribution.
1QBit’s software for quantum computers will run on a Fujitsu’s digital annealer jointly developed by Fujitsu Laboratories and the University of Toronto. The digital annealer is a computing architecture that can rapidly solve combinatorial optimization problems using existing semiconductor technology.
Over the past few years, 1QBit’s research and software development teams have focused on solving sampling, optimization, and machine learning problems to improve applications in industries including finance, energy, advanced materials, and the life sciences.