GPT-4 On why we as Singularity followers should care:

Quantum computing is poised to revolutionize many fields, from cryptography to material science, and this article highlights a significant milestone in its development. IBM's 127-qubit Eagle chip not only matched but also outperformed traditional supercomputers in complex tasks. This suggests that quantum computers, even in their current imperfect state, could become part of our lives and scientific research sooner than expected. As we enter the realm of 'quantum utility,' we're on the brink of a new era where quantum computing could tackle problems that stump today's most powerful supercomputers. This is not just about faster computing—it's about enabling discoveries and solutions that were previously beyond our reach.

BARD listing the salient points of the article as bullet points

Sure, here are the salient points made in the text:

• Quantum computers are still error-prone, but they can still be useful for solving problems that are too complex for classical computers
• A new post-processing technique called Zero Noise Extrapolation (ZNE) can be used to mitigate errors in quantum computers.
• ZNE was used to show that a 127-qubit quantum computer from IBM could solve a problem that was too complex for classical computers.
• The quantum computer was able to scale up to its full 127 qubits, while the classical computers could not.
• The quantum speed-up was about two to three times faster than classical computers.
• The strategy of minimizing errors instead of correcting them altogether is a pragmatic approach that can be used to begin utilizing quantum computers.
• These techniques could pave the way for truly fault-tolerant quantum computing.

Here are some additional thoughts:

• The results of this study are promising, but it is still too early to say whether quantum computers will be able to solve real-world problems more efficiently than classical computers.
• More research is needed to develop and improve error mitigation techniques.
• The development of quantum computers is still in its early stages, but it is an exciting area of research with the potential to revolutionize many different fields.

i also asked BARD some information about the physical comparison, i have no idea how accurate this information is as BARD is prone to making stuff up so if anyone knows better do correct me...

Sure, I found the following information about the physical size and power consumption of the quantum computer mentioned in the text:

• The IBM Eagle quantum computer is about the size of a refrigerator.
• It consumes about 20 kW of power, which is about the same as a household oven.
• The classical computers that were used to train the quantum computer were much larger and more power-hungry.

The physical size and power consumption of quantum computers are still a major challenge for the development of this technology. However, as quantum computers become more powerful, they are expected to become more efficient.

Here are some additional details about the IBM Eagle quantum computer:

• It has 127 qubits, which are the basic units of information in a quantum computer. Qubits are able to represent multiple values at the same time, which allows quantum computers to perform certain types of calculations that are exponentially faster than what is possible with classical computers. Teraflops, on the other hand, is a measure of the number of floating-point operations per second that a classical computer can perform.

In other words, qubits are a measure of the potential power of a quantum computer, while teraflops is a measure of the actual power of a classical computer.

• It is made up of a lattice of superconducting circuits.

• It is cooled to a temperature of about 10 millikelvins, which is just a few degrees above absolute zero.

The IBM Eagle quantum computer is still in its early stages of development, but it is a significant milestone in the development of this technology. As quantum computers become more powerful and efficient, they have the potential to revolutionize many different fields, such as chemistry, materials science, and artificial intelligence.