Quantum information company, Infleqtion, has won a bid for Q-CALC (Quantum Contextual Artificial Intelligence for Long-range Correlations), a project to enhance AI and machine learning capabilities. Supported by Innovate UK, the project will revolutionise data analysis in the defence industry. Infleqtion will collaborate with defence company QinetiQ. The Q-CALC project will provide the UK with a powerful capability in quantum machine learning, improving prediction and decision-making for defence applications.
The project will utilise Infleqtion’s Superstaq platform and is expected to overcome scaling challenges faced by AI/ML models. Dr Timothy Ballance, GM of Infleqtion UK, and Dr Gillian Marshall, QinetiQ’s Senior Fellow for Quantum Technologies, expressed their optimism about the project.
Quantum Computing and Artificial Intelligence Convergence
Infleqtion, a quantum information company, has successfully bid for Q-CALC (Quantum Contextual Artificial Intelligence for Long-range Correlations). This project aims to combine quantum computing and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance AI and machine learning systems’ ability to handle complex data correlations. The project, backed by Innovate UK, is expected to significantly impact data analysis within the defence industry. Infleqtion will collaborate with QinetiQ, a defence company, on this project.
Q-CALC is set to provide the UK with a robust sovereign capability in quantum machine learning, which is expected to improve prediction and decision-making for defence applications. Infleqtion announced the expansion of its quantum software presence to the UK during US trade delegation meetings in July, along with the launch of QECCO, an award for quantum optimisation.
The AI and machine learning market has seen rapid growth in recent years, with significant acceleration in the past few months. However, there are considerable scaling challenges ahead. For instance, while the GPT-3 model took at least $4.6M to train, the GPT-4 model required over $100M. The scaling in training and runtime costs will become even more untenable for future models due to the quadratic scaling costs of the transformer technology underpinning GPT. This presents both a barrier to progress in classical AI and machine learning and a commercial opportunity for Q-CALC, which will enable longer context windows.
Quantum Software and Algorithmic Implementation
The Q-CALC project will utilise experts in quantum software, algorithmic implementation, and benchmarking. It will harness the capabilities of Infleqtion’s Superstaq platform for enhanced solution quality on both real quantum hardware and advanced simulators.
Dr Timothy Ballance, GM of Infleqtion UK, stated that the Q-CALC project is not just an exploration into the possibilities of quantum-enhanced AI, but a tangible step towards realising its potential in real-world applications. By harnessing quantum contextuality, the project aims to pave the way for more advanced and accurate data analysis solutions that can address the unique challenges faced by the defence industry.
Quantum Computing and Machine Learning in Defence
QinetiQ has shown interest in the intersection of quantum computing and machine learning for several years. They see this as a potential route to a breakthrough in challenging defence problems such as identifying targets of interest in complex data sets. Dr Gillian Marshall, QinetiQ’s Senior Fellow for Quantum Technologies, expressed anticipation for teaming with Infleqtion to investigate this promising area further.
Quantum Technologies Funding and Collaboration
Roger McKinlay, challenge director of Quantum Technologies at Innovate UK, said that the Q-CALC project is a great example of how their funding attracts talent, private investment, new collaborations, and creative ideas with real commercial potential. This project is an exciting addition to the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme.
As the UK takes strides to expand its quantum leadership, the Q-CALC project is set to position the nation as a pioneer in quantum-enhanced AI and machine learning. The project’s success will not only advance the capabilities of defence data analysis but also contribute to the growth of the quantum technology sector, creating new revenue streams and high-skilled jobs.
About Infleqtion and QinetiQ
Infleqtion is a company that delivers high-value quantum information precisely where needed. Operating at the Edge, their software-configured, quantum-enabled products provide unmatched levels of precision and power, generating streams of high-value information for commercial organisations, the United States, and allied governments. Infleqtion UK, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Infleqtion, has a fully equipped quantum research laboratory and established production facilities in Oxford.
QinetiQ is an integrated global defence and security company focused on mission-led innovation. They employ more than 8,000 highly skilled people, committed to creating new ways of testing technologies, systems, and processes to ensure they meet operational needs and enabling customers to deploy new and enhanced capabilities with the assurance they will deliver the performance required.
“The Q-CALC project is not just an exploration into the possibilities of quantum-enhanced AI, but a tangible step towards realising its potential in real-world applications,” said Dr Timothy Ballance, GM of Infleqtion UK. “By harnessing quantum contextuality, we’re paving the way for more advanced and accurate data analysis solutions that can address the unique challenges faced by the defence industry.”
“QinetiQ has been interested for several years in the intersection of quantum computing and machine learning. We see this as a possible route to a breakthrough in challenging defence problems such as identifying targets of interest in complex data sets. We are looking forward to teaming with Infleqtion to investigate this promising area further,” said Dr Gillian Marshall, QinetiQ’s Senior Fellow for Quantum Technologies.
Roger McKinlay, challenge director of Quantum Technologies at Innovate UK, said: “This is a great example of how our funding attracts talent, private investment, new collaborations, and creative ideas with real commercial potential. This is an exciting addition to the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme.”
Summary
Infleqtion has won a bid for Q-CALC, a project that combines quantum computing and artificial intelligence to enhance AI and machine learning capabilities in handling complex data correlations, with potential applications in the defence industry. The project, supported by Innovate UK, also aims to address the scaling challenges in AI/ML training and runtime costs, offering a commercial opportunity for more advanced and accurate data analysis solutions.
- Infleqtion, a quantum information company, has won a bid for Q-CALC (Quantum Contextual Artificial Intelligence for Long-range Correlations), a project aimed at enhancing AI and machine learning capabilities in handling complex data correlations.
- The project is supported by Innovate UK and will be carried out in partnership with QinetiQ, a leading defence company.
- Q-CALC aims to provide the UK with a powerful tool in quantum machine learning, improving prediction and decision-making in defence applications.
- The project will utilise Infleqtion’s Superstaq platform, which enhances solution quality on real quantum hardware and advanced simulators.
- Dr Timothy Ballance, GM of Infleqtion UK, believes the project will lead to more advanced and accurate data analysis solutions for the defence industry.
- Dr Gillian Marshall, QinetiQ’s Senior Fellow for Quantum Technologies, sees the intersection of quantum computing and machine learning as a potential breakthrough for defence problems.
- Roger McKinlay, challenge director of Quantum Technologies at Innovate UK, views the project as an exciting addition to the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme.
- The success of the Q-CALC project could position the UK as a leader in quantum-enhanced AI and machine learning, contributing to the growth of the quantum technology sector and creating new revenue streams and high-skilled jobs.
