Cloud-based quantum computing integrates the extraordinary potential of quantum mechanics with the accessibility and scalability of cloud technology. By hosting Quantum Processing Units (QPUs) in cloud environments – the quantum cloud, providers can offer access to quantum computing resources over the internet, making it feasible for users worldwide to perform complex computations without the need for owning quantum hardware. This paradigm shift is not just about providing access; it’s about fostering an ecosystem where innovation, collaboration, and exploration in quantum computing can flourish.
Quantum Cloud Services
Xanadu
Xanadu has made Borealis, a programmable photonic quantum computer with 216 squeezed-state qubits that outperforms the best classical supercomputers at a specific task, available to people everywhere via Xanadu Cloud and Amazon Braket.
Xanadu Cloud presents itself as a comprehensive quantum computing platform, offering a blend of hardware, software, and application services tailored for quantum computing. It positions itself as a quantum playground, inviting users to explore the realm of quantum computing. The platform encourages interested parties to reach out and get started with their quantum computing journey.
Amazon AWS Braket
Amazon AWS Braket is a fully managed quantum computing service that provides scientists, researchers, and developers with access to a variety of quantum hardware. Through this service, users can explore and experiment with quantum algorithms in a cloud-based environment. AWS Braket offers a unique opportunity to work with different types of quantum computing technologies, including gate-based superconducting systems and quantum annealers, from multiple quantum hardware providers. This diversity in hardware choices allows users to select the most suitable technology for their specific quantum experiments and research needs.
One of the key features of AWS Braket is its user-friendly interface and integrated development environment. This setup enables users to design quantum algorithms, test them on simulated quantum computers, and then run these algorithms on the selected quantum hardware (there is an ever growing range of providers). The service is designed to be accessible to those who are new to quantum computing, while also providing advanced tools for experienced quantum researchers. AWS Braket also includes managed Jupyter notebooks, offering a familiar and interactive environment for writing and executing code, which further simplifies the process of building and testing quantum algorithms.
In addition to providing access to quantum hardware, AWS Braket supports a range of learning resources and sample algorithms, making it a valuable tool for education and experimentation in the field of quantum computing. The service is integrated with other AWS services, allowing for seamless cloud experience and facilitating the development of hybrid quantum-classical applications. AWS Braket represents a significant step in making quantum computing more accessible and practical for a wide range of users, from academic researchers to industry professionals, looking to explore the potential of this emerging technology.
QC Ware Forge
The Forge platform offers a range of quantum computing solutions, leveraging advanced quantum techniques to enhance performance in various computational tasks. Key offerings include Binary Optimization, Quantum Annealing, and the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA). These methods are designed to significantly boost performance, especially in gate-based approaches for Binary Optimization and parameter optimization in Quantum Annealing. Users can bring their own Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) problems to the platform, where Forge selects optimal parameters for quantum backends, often achieving better results than default settings. The QAOA implementation available on Forge is ready to use and aims to demonstrate effective performance in optimization problems.
The platform also features advanced Monte Carlo methods tailored for the Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) era, enabling users to tackle complex problems in quantitative finance, such as option pricing and risk analysis. These Quantum Monte Carlo simulations are part of Forge’s suite of tools for financial applications. Additionally, Forge hints at future updates and major additions to their services, indicating ongoing development and enhancement of their quantum computing offerings.
QuTech Quantum Inspire
Quantum Inspire stands as a pioneering multi-hardware quantum technology platform, functioning as a full-stack quantum computer prototype. Launched in May 2020 by Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven and European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, it marked Europe’s first public quantum computing platform or quantum cloud. Quantum Inspire serves multiple roles: as a training and educational tool, a test-bed for application development, and a collaborative platform for R&D in quantum computing.
Quantum Inspire is characterized by its high modularity and public cloud-based access to QuTech quantum technologies. It includes programmable quantum processors like the SPIN-2, a 2-qubit processor based on spin qubits in Silicon, and the STARMON-5, a 5-qubit processor based on superconducting transmon qubits. The platform also offers quantum computer simulators (QX-26 and QX-31) capable of simulating up to 31 qubits, along with tutorials and educational content on quantum information processing. Looking ahead, Quantum Inspire aims to become a showcase for quantum computing technology developed in the Netherlands and Europe, planning to introduce new and improved quantum processors based on spin qubits, transmon qubits, and other technologies like NV center qubits.
IBM Quantum Experience
IBM Quantum Experience is a pioneering platform in cloud-based quantum computing. It allows users, ranging from researchers to enthusiasts, to access IBM’s quantum processors and simulators online. This platform is part of IBM’s broader effort to advance quantum computing and make it more accessible to a wider audience.
The service includes a variety of tools such as Qiskit, an open-source quantum computing software development kit (SDK), which enables users to create, simulate, and run quantum algorithms. IBM has been actively increasing the number of qubits in their quantum computers and now can offer routinely over 100 qubits, aiming to achieve quantum advantage. They also offer educational resources to foster a growing community of quantum programmers and researchers.
Quandela Cloud
Quandela Cloud presents a comprehensive suite of functionalities tailored for photonic quantum computing. Central to its offerings is Perceval, Quandela’s proprietary photonic quantum computing framework. Perceval is Python-based, ensuring seamless coding experiences on Quandela’s Quantum Processing Units (QPUs). The platform is rich in resources, including extensive documentation to guide users through the nuances of Perceval and a variety of pre-implemented algorithms. These algorithms cover a broad spectrum of applications, such as solving partial differential equations (PDEs), data clustering, generating certified random numbers, logistical problem solving, and computing molecular properties.
Quandela Cloud is designed with user accessibility in mind. It displays the status and specifications of its QPUs, allowing users to select the most suitable one for their tasks. The platform includes a job monitoring interface to track the progress of computations. Additionally, there’s a Usage Explorer feature for users to monitor their compute time utilization. The platform encourages trial and exploration, offering a free trial for new users. This is complemented by a call to action for interested individuals to create an account, access documentation, and start experimenting with Quandela’s quantum computers.
qBraid
qBraid offers a comprehensive, all-in-one platform within the quantum ecosystem, positioning itself as a one-stop solution for quantum computing needs. This platform is designed to cater to a wide range of users, including researchers and developers, by providing an integrated environment for coding with various processing units like CPUs, GPUs, and Quantum Processing Units (QPUs). An example of their practical application is the recent collaboration with Airbus on quantum computing for flight trajectory optimization.
Additionally, qBraid has developed the qBraid-SDK, a Python toolkit that serves as a cross-framework tool. It allows for the abstraction, transpilation, and execution of quantum programs across various hardware platforms and simulators. This SDK enhances the flexibility and compatibility of quantum programming with different quantum computing technologies.
A significant feature of qBraid’s platform is its ability to harness over 20 different quantum computers and simulators. This includes access to quantum hardware from major providers such as IBM, QuEra, Oxford Quantum Circuits, Rigetti, and Amazon Braket. The platform’s versatility is further enhanced by its support for flexible CPU and GPU resources, making it a robust and comprehensive tool for quantum computing applications.
Strangeworks
The Strangeworks platform is notable for its integration with multiple quantum programming languages and frameworks, allowing users to work with their preferred tools. This flexibility is a key aspect of the platform, catering to a diverse range of user preferences and project requirements. Additionally, the platform is hardware-agnostic, offering access to various quantum processors from multiple providers. This approach enables users to experiment with different quantum computing technologies and select the most suitable one for their specific needs. Collaboration tools are another significant feature, facilitating teamwork and knowledge sharing among users, which is particularly beneficial for research groups and educational settings.
Strangeworks targets a broad spectrum of users, from enterprise clients to individual quantum computing enthusiasts. The platform’s adaptability makes it a valuable resource for a range of applications, from advanced research to introductory educational purposes. Moreover, Strangeworks provides a wealth of educational materials, contributing to the growth of knowledge and understanding in the quantum computing community. These resources are instrumental in fostering a learning environment that supports the development of quantum computing skills and expertise.
Microsoft Azure Quantum
Microsoft Azure Quantum is a comprehensive quantum computing platform that offers a diverse range of solutions and services. It provides access to quantum hardware, quantum-inspired optimization solutions, and development tools, making it a versatile platform for various quantum computing applications.
Azure Quantum’s collaborative approach involves partnerships with several leading quantum hardware providers, enabling users to access a wide range of quantum technologies. Microsoft is also developing its quantum computing technology, focusing on topological qubits, which are expected to offer enhanced stability and scalability.
Azure Quantum offers access to quantum hardware from partners like Honeywell Quantum Solutions and IonQ. It supports various quantum technologies and provides tools for algorithm development. Visit Microsoft Azure Quantum.
Rigetti Quantum Cloud Services
Rigetti Computing’s cloud service provides access to their in-house developed superconducting quantum processors. The platform is designed to support the full stack of quantum computing, from hardware to software, facilitating the development and testing of quantum algorithms.
Rigetti is known for its efforts in integrating classical and quantum computing, aiming to create hybrid systems that leverage the strengths of both technologies. They have been actively involved in research and collaborations to explore practical applications of quantum computing in various fields.
Rigetti Computing has advanced the field of quantum computing by pioneering a hybrid quantum-classical computation model through its Quantum Cloud Services (QCS) platform. This model emphasizes ultra-low latency connectivity, achieving less than one millisecond of delay between high-performance classical hardware and Rigetti Quantum Processing Units (QPUs). This tight coupling contrasts with other approaches where quantum processors (QPUs) are connected over the internet, often resulting in significant latency ranging from seconds to hours. In these competitive models, QPUs function more like remote quantum circuit evaluators rather than integrated co-processors.
Rigetti’s platform supports integration with various classical computing resources via network APIs. These APIs grant access to core functions of the quantum operating system, including user authentication, system service authorization, circuit submission and scheduling, memory management, and concurrency. Rigetti also offers Software Development Kits (SDKs) with API endpoints designed for developers to create custom software. For partners needing direct end-user access to Rigetti QPUs, Rigetti provides a JupyterLab-based Integrated Development Environment (IDE), which is connected to classical hardware hosted by Rigetti and integrated with their QPUs.
Rigetti has developed Quil (also pyQuil), a quantum instruction language that serves as a programming abstraction for QPUs. Quil resembles an assembly language for quantum programming, combining gate-level and pulse-level descriptions of quantum circuits with classical instructions and shared memory. Rigetti’s APIs expect Quil as the format for quantum programs executed on their QPUs. Additionally, Rigetti introduced Quil-T, an extension of Quil, which allows for the control of continuous-time dynamics of microwave signals sent to quantum integrated circuits. Quil-T enables programmable gate definitions and pulse parameters, offering access to calibrations of native gates on Rigetti QPUs. This integration allows for the editing of pulses and modification of pulse timing, facilitated through pyQuil, the quilc compiler, and Rigetti APIs.
D-Wave Leap
D-Wave Leap offers cloud access to quantum annealing processors, suitable for optimization and sampling problems. D-Wave specializes in quantum annealing technology. D-Wave Leap provides cloud-based access to D-Wave’s quantum annealing processors. This service is particularly focused on solving complex optimization and sampling problems, which are well-suited to quantum annealing technology.
D-Wave has been a leader in commercializing quantum computing (with one of the first commercial quantum computers) and has continuously improved its quantum annealing processors in terms of qubit count and performance. Leap also offers a community environment, educational resources, and tools to support users in developing quantum applications.
Pasqal
Pulser Studio is a unique platform designed to make programming with neutral atoms accessible to a broad audience, including those without extensive coding experience. As a no-code development platform, Pulser Studio simplifies the process of working with quantum systems, opening up the field of quantum computing to a wider range of users. This user-friendly approach aims to democratize the development and experimentation in quantum computing, particularly in the realm of neutral-atom technology.
QuBec stands out as the first quantum computational platform specifically tailored for applications in chemistry and materials science. It integrates specialized chemistry algorithms and process automation, making it a powerful tool for enterprises focusing on material and drug development. A key feature of QuBec is its integration with Schrödinger’s Maestro, a renowned chemical modeling interface, enhancing its utility in chemical research and development.
Additionally, QuBec includes an innovative tool called Q-time, an automated quantum resource estimator. Q-time is designed to help users assess the potential for achieving a quantum advantage in solving industry-relevant problems in chemistry and materials science. This feature is particularly valuable for planning and decision-making in research and development projects, where understanding the timeline and feasibility of quantum solutions is crucial.
Quantum Computing Inc. (QCI)
Qatalyst is a cloud-based service designed to simplify the process of solving complex optimization problems using quantum computing. It is tailored for end users who seek to address business challenges without delving into the intricacies of quantum programming. This service enables users to formulate their optimization problems once and then submit these problems to a variety of quantum computers or simulators without the need for re-formulation for each specific system.
A key feature of Qatalyst is its focus on user convenience and accessibility. It allows users to concentrate on their domain of combinatorial optimization problems, rather than getting entangled in the detailed and machine-specific programming typically required for running problems on different quantum machines. Being programming-language-independent and callable from any language that can interact with a REST API, Qatalyst offers a high degree of flexibility. Its cloud-based nature, hosted on AWS, ensures availability from anywhere. To aid users, Qatalyst provides fully working example programs, demonstrating how to solve optimization and graph problems with minimal coding effort.
Qatalyst supports a range of hardware, including QCi’s own Dirac-1 (QUBIT) and the upcoming Dirac-2 (QUDIT) Entropy Quantum Computing systems, QCi’s quantum-inspired classical solver, IonQ s11, Rigetti Aspen systems, Oxford Quantum Computing’s “Lucy”, and the AWS Braket State Vector Simulator (SV1). This wide range of supported hardware underscores Qatalyst’s versatility and commitment to providing solutions across various quantum computing platforms. Example problems that can be addressed using Qatalyst include graph partitioning, community detection, and various other optimization challenges, showcasing its applicability in solving real-world problems efficiently.
Zapata AI Computing
Orquestra from Zapata is a dynamic platform tailored for the development and deployment of industrial generative AI applications, distinguishing itself through its adept use of both text-based and numerical models.
The platform offers a unique blend of flexibility and optimization in hardware usage. Users can optimize their applications for cost, speed, or model performance, thanks to the platform’s ability to run applications on the best hardware available, including advanced quantum processors and QPUs. Additionally, Orquestra is equipped with best-in-class software services and libraries, incorporating the latest algorithmic techniques. This integration capability, coupled with the platform’s modular and forward-compatible design, ensures that users can avoid vendor lock-in and maintain flexibility across various computing environments, whether on-premises, hybrid, or multi-cloud.
The platform supports the entire spectrum of the application lifecycle, from initial research and development to deployment and ongoing maintenance. Furthermore, Orquestra enhances data velocity by enabling the creation of workflows that automate data cleaning and processing in parallel, reducing latency by colocating compute and data. This comprehensive approach ensures that users can maximize the performance of their AI models, making Orquestra an invaluable tool in the realm of industrial generative AI applications.
Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC)
This quantum cloud service from OQC enables users, ranging from researchers to industry professionals, to remotely access and utilize OQC’s quantum computing resources for various applications and experiments.
Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) has launched OQC Toshiko, touted as the world’s first enterprise-ready quantum computing platform, during the Global Investment Summit. This platform, a 32-qubit system, is designed to be deployed in commercial data centers, making quantum computing more accessible and secure for businesses globally. OQC Toshiko is particularly significant for industries handling sensitive data, such as financial services, pharmaceuticals, energy, defense, and government. The integration of quantum computing into data centers is a strategic move to offer hybrid compute solutions, combining quantum and High-Performance Computing (HPC), facilitated by advanced networking infrastructure like Digital Fabric Interconnect.
Tencent Quantum Lab
Tencent offers quantum computing services focused on research and development in quantum computing. More information can be found on Tencent’s official website.
Alibaba Cloud Quantum Computing Platform
Operated by Alibaba, this platform offers quantum computing services and is known for its superconducting quantum computing cloud service. Visit their official website for more details. Recent news has indicated that the quantum efforts at the company have been disbanded and thus one can assume that the service is no longer running.
