Latest news with #supercomputers
WIRED
4 days ago
- Science
- WIRED
How Supercomputing Will Evolve, According to Jack Dongarra
Aug 5, 2025 5:00 AM WIRED talked with one of the most influential voices in computer science about the potential for AI and quantum to supercharge supercomputers. Jack Dongarra in Lindau in July 2025. Photograph: Patrick Kunkel/Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings High-performance supercomputing—once the exclusive domain of scientific research—is now a strategic resource for training increasingly complex artificial intelligence models. This convergence of AI and HPC is redefining not only these technologies, but also the ways in which knowledge is produced, and takes a strategic position in the global landscape. To discuss how HPC is evolving, in July WIRED caught up with Jack Dongarra, a US computer scientist who has been a key contributor to the development of HPC software over the past four decades—so much so that in 2021 he earned the prestigious Turing Award. The meeting took place at the 74th Nobel Laureate Meeting in Lindau, Germany, which brought together dozens of Nobel laureates as well as more than 600 emerging scientists from around the world. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Jack Dongarra on stage at the 74th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. Photograph: Patrick Kunkel/Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings WIRED: What will be the role of artificial intelligence and quantum computing in scientific and technological development in the coming years? Jack Dongarra: I would say AI is already playing an important role in how science is done: We're using AI in many ways to help with scientific discovery. It's being used in terms of computing and helping us to approximate how things behave. So I think of AI as a way to get an approximation, and then maybe refine the approximation with the traditional techniques. Today we have traditional techniques for modeling and simulation, and those are run on computers. If you have a very demanding problem, then you would turn to a supercomputer to understand how to compute the solution. AI is going to make that faster, better, more efficient. AI is also going to have an impact beyond science—it's going to be more important than the internet was when it arrived. It's going to be so pervasive in what we do. It's going to be used in so many ways that we haven't really discovered today. It's going to serve more of a purpose than the internet has played in the past 15, 20 years. Quantum computing is interesting. It's really a wonderful area for research, but my feeling is we have a long way to go. Today we have examples of quantum computers—hardware always arrives before software—but those examples are very primitive. With a digital computer, we think of doing a computation and getting an answer. The quantum computer is instead going to give us a probability distribution of where the answer is, and you're going to make a number of, we'll call it runs on the quantum computer, and it'll give you a number of potential solutions to the problem, but it's not going to give you the answer. So it's going to be different. With quantum computing, are we caught in a moment of hype? I think unfortunately it's been oversold—there's too much hype associated with quantum. The result of that typically is that people will get all excited about it, and then it doesn't live up to any of the promises that were made, and then the excitement will collapse. We've seen this before: AI has gone through that cycle and has recovered. And now today AI is a real thing. People use it, it's productive, and it's going to serve a purpose for all of us in a very substantial way. I think quantum has to go through that winter, where people will be discouraged by it, they'll ignore it, and then there'll be some bright people who figure out how to use it and how to make it so that it is more competitive with traditional things. There are many issues that have to be worked out. Quantum computers are very easy to disturb. They're going to have a lot of 'faults'—they will break down because of the nature of how fragile the computation is. Until we can make things more resistant to those failures, it's not going to do quite the job that we hope that it can do. I don't think we'll ever have a laptop that's a quantum laptop. I may be wrong, but certainly I don't think it'll happen in my lifetime. Quantum computers also need quantum algorithms, and today we have very few algorithms that can effectively be run on a quantum computer. So quantum computing is at its infancy, and along with that the infrastructure that will use the quantum computer. So quantum algorithms, quantum software, the techniques that we have, all of those are very primitive. When can we expect—if ever—the transition from traditional to quantum systems? So today we have many supercomputing centers around the world, and they have very powerful computers. Those are digital computers. Sometimes the digital computer gets augmented with something to enhance performance—an accelerator. Today those accelerators are GPUs, graphics processing units. The GPU does something very well, and it just does that thing well, it's been architected to do that. In the old days, that was important for graphics; today we're refactoring that so that we can use a GPU to satisfy some of the computational needs that we have. In the future, I think that we will augment the CPU and the GPU with other devices. Perhaps quantum would be another device that we would add to that. Maybe it would be neuromorphic—computing that sort of imitates how our brain works. And then we have optical computers. So think of shining light and having that light interfere, and the interference basically is the computation you want it to do. Think of an optical computer that takes two beams of light, and in the light is encoded numbers, and when they interact in this computing device, it produces an output, which is the multiplication of those numbers. And that happens at the speed of light. So that's incredibly fast. So that's a device that perhaps could fit into this CPU, GPU, quantum, neuromorphic computer device. Those are all things that perhaps could combine. How is the current geopolitical competition—between China, the United States, and beyond—affecting the development and sharing of technology? The US is restricting computing at a certain level from going to China. Certain parts from Nvidia are no longer allowed to be sold there, for example. But they're sold to areas around China, and when I go visit Chinese colleagues and look at what they have in their their computers, they have a lot of Nvidia stuff. So there's an unofficial pathway. At the same time, China has pivoted from buying Western technology to investing in its own technology, putting more funding into the research necessary to advance it. Perhaps this restriction that's been imposed has backfired by causing China to accelerate the development of parts that they can control very much more than they could otherwise. The Chinese have also decided that information about their supercomputers should not be advertised. We do know about them—what they look like, and what their potential is, and what they've done—but there's no metric that allows us to benchmark and compare in a very controlled way how those computers compare against the machines that we have. They have very powerful machines that are probably equal to the power of the most significant machines that we have in the US. They're built on technology that was invented or designed in China. They've designed their own chips. They compete with the chips that we have in the computers that are in the West. And the question that people ask is: Where were the chips fabricated? Most chips used in the West are fabricated by the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. China has technology, which is a generation or two behind the technology that TSMC has, but they're going to catch up. My guess is that some of the Chinese chips are also fabricated in Taiwan. When I ask my Chinese friends 'Where were your chips manufactured?' they say China. And if I push them and say 'Well, were they manufactured in Taiwan?' the answer to that comes back eventually is Taiwan is part of China. Jack Dongarra on the shores of Lake Constance at the 74th Nobel Laureate Meeting. Photograph: Gianluca Dotti/Wired How will the role of programmers and developers change as AI evolves? Will we get to write software using only natural language? AI has a very important role I think in helping to take away some of the time-consuming parts of developing programs. It's gotten all the information about everybody else's programs that's available and then it synthesizes that and then can push that forward. I've been very impressed when I have asked some of these systems to write a piece of software to do a certain task; the AI does a pretty good job. And then I can refine that with another prompt, saying 'Optimize this for this kind of computer,' and it does a pretty good job of that. In the future, I think more and more we will be using language to describe a story to AI, and then have it write a program to carry out that function. Now of course, there are limits—and we have to be careful about hallucinations or something giving us the wrong results. But maybe we can build in some checks to verify the solutions that AI produces and we can use that as a way of measuring the potential accuracy of that solution. We should be aware of the potential problems, but I think we have to move ahead in this front. This story originally appeared on WIRED Italia and has been translated from Italian.
Wall Street Journal
25-07-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
The New Chips Designed to Solve AI's Energy Problem
'I can't wrap my head around it,' says Andrew Wee, who has been a Silicon Valley data-center and hardware guy for 30 years. The 'it' that has him so befuddled—irate, even—is the projected power demands of future AI supercomputers, the ones that are supposed to power humanity's great leap forward. Wee held senior roles at Apple and Meta, and is now head of hardware for cloud provider Cloudflare. He believes the current growth in energy required for AI—which the World Economic Forum estimates will be 50% a year through 2030—is unsustainable.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Analyst sends bold message on quantum computing stocks after Nvidia CEO's pivot
Analyst sends bold message on quantum computing stocks after Nvidia CEO's pivot originally appeared on TheStreet. When people talk about computing speed today, they think of Nvidia's () powerful GPUs, the gold standard for accelerating artificial intelligence. But there could be another quieter revolution gaining traction: quantum computing. 💵💰💰💵 Quantum computing's potential applications include portfolio optimization in finance and simulating complex chemical systems, tasks that today's most powerful supercomputers still struggle to solve. Still, the technology is years away from mass adoption. But Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has recently struck a more optimistic tone on quantum computing. 'Quantum computing is reaching an inflection point,' he said at a conference on June 11. Classical computers process information in bits, and each bit is either a 0 or a 1. Quantum computers use qubits (quantum bits), which can be both 0 and 1 at the same time. This allows quantum computers to process vastly more possibilities at once. Think of a regular computer as a librarian, looking through books one by one to find the answer. Quantum computers, on the other hand, can look through all the books at once. "This means quantum computing may revolutionize our ability to solve problems that are hard to address with even the largest supercomputers," the U.S. Department of Energy noted that 'we are within reach' of applying quantum computers "in areas that can solve some interesting problems in the coming years.' This is a notable shift from Huang's earlier skepticism. He had previously said that a 15-year timeline for useful quantum computing was 'on the early side,' and that a 20-year horizon was more realistic. Those remarks triggered sharp declines in shares of quantum-focused companies like Quantum Computing Inc. () , IonQ () , and D-Wave Quantum () . This week, shares of Quantum Computing Inc. lost more than 11% as the firm sold approximately 14 million shares of common stock at $14.25 per share to institutional investors. The deal was announced on June 23 and closed on June 24, bringing the firm about $200 million. The firm said it intends to use the net proceeds from the sale to accelerate commercialization efforts, to engage in strategic acquisitions, and for working capital and general corporate purposes. The stock dropped after the dilution, but one Wall Street veteran is buying more shares on that dip. Stephen Guilfoyle, Wall Street's 30-year veteran analyst, said he added positions in Quantum Computing Inc. and D-Wave Quantum this week. He also unveils bold price targets for the two stocks, according to his note published on TheStreet Pro. 'In response to the sale and the diluted share price, on Monday morning ahead of the opening bell, I had added small to my existing long position and had also re-initiated a long position in key competitor D-Wave Quantum,' Guilfoyle wrote. 'Neither firm will report for almost two months.'Guilfoyle noted that Quantum Computing Inc. has burned through more than $65 million in cash over the past three years, and its latest $200 million capital raise — done at $14.25 per share — was priced well above where the stock traded just months ago. 'Apparently, despite the cash burn, and despite the fact that the shares traded $4.37 this year, some institutional investors are willing to pay for the shares,' he wrote. He now sees a new technical pivot for QUBT at $21.80 and has raised his price target to $27, citing healthy relative strength and a bullish technical setup. "Investors will have to digest the extra shares. That said, quantum computing stocks are momentum driven and do not trade on fundamentals," he added. More Nvidia: Analysts revamp forecast for Nvidia-backed AI stock Nvidia stock could surge after surprising Taiwan Semi news Nvidia CEO sends blunt 7-word message on quantum computing As for D-Wave, Guilfoyle believes the chart looks even better. He sees a pivot at $18.30, with a target of $23 if the rally continues. Both stocks have more than tripled from their March lows. On June 26, Quantum Computing Inc. closed at $16.79, and D-Wave Quantum finished at $14.06. Analyst sends bold message on quantum computing stocks after Nvidia CEO's pivot first appeared on TheStreet on Jun 27, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
IBM and RIKEN Unveil First IBM Quantum System Two Outside of the U.S.
IBM's next-generation quantum computer, now online in Japan, is also connected to the supercomputer Fugaku to accelerate quantum computational power and accuracy KOBE, Japan, June 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) and RIKEN, a national research laboratory in Japan, today unveiled the first IBM Quantum System Two ever to be deployed outside of the United States and beyond an IBM Quantum Data Center. The availability of this system also marks a milestone as the first quantum computer to be co-located with RIKEN's supercomputer Fugaku — one of the most powerful classical systems on Earth. This effort is supported by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), an organization under the jurisdiction of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)'s "Development of Integrated Utilization Technology for Quantum and Supercomputers" as part of the "Project for Research and Development of Enhanced Infrastructures for Post 5G Information and Communications Systems." IBM Quantum System Two at RIKEN is powered by IBM's 156-qubit IBM Quantum Heron, the company's best performing quantum processor to-date. IBM Heron's quality as measured by the two-qubit error rate, across a 100-qubit layered circuit, is 3x10-3 (with the best two-qubit error being 1x10-3) — which is 10 times better than the previous generation 127-qubit IBM Quantum Eagle. IBM Heron's speed, as measured by the CLOPS (circuit layer operations per second) metric is 250,000, which reflects another 10x improvement in the past year, over IBM Eagle. At a scale of 156 qubits, with these quality and speed metrics, Heron is the most performant quantum processor in the world. This latest Heron is capable of running quantum circuits that are beyond brute-force simulations on classical computers, and its connection to Fugaku will enable RIKEN teams to use quantum-centric supercomputing approaches to push forward research on advanced algorithms, such as fundamental chemistry problems. The new IBM Quantum System Two is co-located with Fugaku within the RIKEN Center for Computational Science (R-CCS), Japan's premier high-performance computing (HPC) center. The computers are linked through a high-speed network at the fundamental instruction level to form a proving ground for quantum-centric supercomputing. This low-level integration allows RIKEN and IBM engineers to develop parallelized workloads, low-latency classical-quantum communication protocols, and advanced compilation passes and libraries. Because quantum and classical systems will ultimately offer different computational strengths, this will allow each paradigm to seamlessly perform the parts of an algorithm for which it is best suited. This quantum computer expands IBM's global fleet of quantum computers, and was officially launched during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 24, 2025, in Kobe, Japan. The event featured opening remarks from RIKEN President Makoto Gonokami; Jay Gambetta, IBM Fellow and Vice President of IBM Quantum; Akio Yamaguchi, General Manager of IBM Japan; as well as local parliament members and representatives from the Kobe Prefecture and City, METI, NEDO, and MEXT. "The future of computing is quantum-centric and with our partners at RIKEN we are taking a big step forward to make this vision a reality," said Jay Gambetta, VP, IBM Quantum. "The new IBM Quantum System Two powered by our latest Heron processor and connected to Fugaku, will allow scientists and engineers to push the limits of what is possible." "By combining Fugaku and the IBM Quantum System Two, RIKEN aims to lead Japan into a new era of high-performance computing," said Dr. Mitsuhisa Sato, Division Director of the Quantum-HPC Hybrid Platform Division, RIKEN Center for Computational Science. "Our mission is to develop and demonstrate practical quantum-HPC hybrid workflows that can be explored by both the scientific community and industry. The connection of these two systems enables us to take critical steps toward realizing this vision." The installation of IBM Quantum System Two at RIKEN is poised to expand previous achievements by RIKEN and IBM researchers as they seek to discover algorithms that offer quantum advantage: the point at which a quantum computer can solve a problem faster, cheaper, or more accurately than any known classical method. This includes work recently featured on the cover of Science Advances, based on sample-based quantum diagonalization (SQD) techniques to accurately model the electronic structure of iron sulfides, a compound present widely in nature and organic systems. The ability to realistically model such a complex system is essential for many problems in chemistry, and was historically believed to require fault-tolerant quantum computers. SQD workflows are among the first demonstrations of how the near-term quantum computers of today can provide scientific value when integrated with powerful classical infrastructure. About RIKEN RIKEN is Japan's largest research institute for basic and applied research. Over 2,500 papers by RIKEN researchers are published every year in leading scientific and technology journals covering a broad spectrum of disciplines including physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, and medical science. RIKEN's research environment and strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and globalization has earned a worldwide reputation for scientific excellence. Visit for more information. About IBM IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently, and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service. Visit for more information. Media Contacts Yohei KawakamiIBM Dave MosherIBM SOURCE IBM Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Former GCHQ chief joins Oxford quantum start-up amid race against China
The former head of GCHQ has joined the board of an Oxford quantum computing start-up as Britain vies with China and the US for an edge developing the cutting-edge supercomputers. Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) has appointed Sir Jeremy Fleming, who led the spy agency until 2023, as a director. The start-up has raised more than £100m to build a fleet of advanced quantum computers, some of which are already being tested by customers. Its plans pit it against US technology giants including Google and IBM, which are working on their own quantum machines, and China, where Beijing is directing efforts to develop its own version of the technology. Quantum computing aims to exploit the properties of quantum physics to develop machines that are far superior to current, classical supercomputers. So far, these computers have had only limited use cases and are prone to errors, but there are hopes they could help revolutionise scientific study, finance and drug discovery. The technology is also the subject of national security scrutiny, given these computers could in theory be used to crack the world's most advanced encryption algorithms, presenting a hacking threat if used by a hostile state. Sir Jeremy was appointed to lead GCHQ, the UK's signals intelligence agency, in 2017, heading up the organisation for six years. He previously worked at MI5 on counter-terrorism and led its security efforts for the London Olympics. His appointment shows the keen interest the national security establishment has taken in the development of quantum technology. Gerald Mullaly, interim chief executive of OQC, said: 'We are absolutely delighted that Sir Jeremy is joining our board. It reinforces the absolute significance of quantum computing to national security and defence, not only in terms of our focus on those sectors, but also for the UK and the country's economic resilience.' The UK has pledged to spend £2.5bn developing quantum computing by 2033, although this is eclipsed by the estimated £11bn that China has confirmed it is spending on the technology. The US innovation agency Darpa, meanwhile, has said it plans to spend $1bn acquiring a quantum computer over the next decade. There are fears in the industry that UK funding for the nascent technology could come under pressure from Rachel Reeves's upcoming spending review. OQC has built and operates several quantum computers, including the only quantum computer in the UK in a data centre. Mr Mullaly said he believed the company would have a quantum computer by 2028 that could run millions of quantum operations at once and far surpass the capabilities of any traditional supercomputer on the planet. Crucial applications could include cyber defence, with a quantum computer able to spot tiny anomalies that traditional computer systems would miss. The computers could also be used for fraud detection, helping banks better block billions of pounds in false transactions.
