Ilana Wisby (OQC): Quantum computing is now ready for businesses

Ilana Wisby, CEO of oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) and a key figure in the nascent quantum computingassures in an interview with EFE that the first computers of this new generation are already “outside the laboratory”, ready to serve companies and governments.

At 34 years old, this doctor in physics, pianist and businesswoman has transformed an experimental technology from the University of Oxford into a cloud platform that puts the new computing capabilities of quantum processors at the service of sectors such as banking, pharmaceuticals, security and data analysis.

The world is increasingly dependent on a digital infrastructure that can only meet growing computing demands with (conventional) supercomputers, says Wilby during the Mobile World Congress in the Spanish city of Barcelona, ​​where he offered one of the “keynotes” on the main stage of the event.

“We are contributing to solving this problem with the potential of quantum computing”indicates the researcher, who emphasizes that her mission is to transfer a still incipient technology to the “mainstream business world”.

The new computers, based on the principles of quantum mechanics developed at the beginning of the 20th century, will not completely replace the classic ones, but will coexist with them, he highlights.

In November, his company launched OQC Toshiko, a 32-qubit (quantum bit) platform capable of integrating with commercial data centers and offering “easy and secure access” to the companies.

New solutions with industrial value

Conventional processors face four major challenges: simulating nature, solving problems with a huge number of possible solutions, managing large databases and factoring large numbers, details Wisby.

Overcoming these technical barriers can change the prospects for innovation in many sectors. Oxford Quantum Circuits works, among other clients, with some of the leading global banks, exploring ways to “optimize your financial portfolios.”

Also with large pharmaceutical companies, which hope that quantum will allow them to advance in the discovery of new medicines, and with automobile companies, interested in improving their manufacturing processes.

The researcher assures that she also collaborates with various governments, which she refuses to reveal due to confidentiality issues, in “use cases for national security and defense”. Not in vain, the ability of future quantum systems to decipher encrypted documents is going to be a major geopolitical problem in a few years, according to experts.

The set of possible applications of quantum computers will have reached a market value of US$ 1.3 trillion in 2035, according to estimates by the consulting firm McKinsey – also present at the MWC. Its contribution to financial services alone will be worth US$622 billion by then, according to those calculations.

Artificial intelligence revolution

Quantum computing is no stranger to the artificial intelligence revolution, which is destined to change practically all areas of technology.

“Quantum computers can process enormous amounts of information in parallel, which could greatly increase the speed and efficiency of machine learning algorithms,” says the CEO of Oxford Quantum Circuits.

Combine both technologies “could result in faster and more accurate predictions, which could have value in many applications, including image and pattern recognition,” precise.

“Quantum machine learning could allow the identification of subtle patterns and relationships in large databases, which might not attract attention using classical techniques,” adds Wisby.

Among other projects, OQC collaborates with other firms in the development of foundational AI algorithms for natural language processing.

“Think of the great language models developed by firms like OpenAI and Google, but powered by quantum computing”describes the businesswoman and scientist.