Google announced that it will establish a Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab with NASA to study the use of quantum computing for machne lerning in support of problems including web search, speech recognition, planning and scheduling, search for exoplanets, and support operations in mission control centers.
"We believe quantum computing may help solve some of the most challenging computer science problems, particularly in machine learning. Machine learning is all about building better models of the world to make more accurate predictions. If we want to cure diseases, we need better models of how they develop. If we want to create effective environmental policies, we need better models of what’s happening to our climate. And if we want to build a more useful search engine, we need to better understand spoken questions and what’s on the web so you get the best answer."
The lab will use a D-Wave Systems computer and share it with external researchers via NASA's USRA. According to D-wave Systems, "Installation has already begun at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, and the system is expected to be available to researchers during Q3."
"As part of the selection process, Google, NASA and USRA created a series of benchmark and acceptance tests that the new D-Wave 512-qubit system was required to pass before the installation at NASA Ames could proceed. In all cases, the D-Wave Two system met or exceeded the required performance specifications, in some cases by a large margin."
If you are interested in finding out more about quantum computing, you might talk to two members of the CSEE faculty who work on the topic: Professors Sam Lomonaco and Joel Morris.