IBM is now officially testing a prototype quantum processor with 50 quantum bits, or qubits, the company noted first in late November.

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The 50-qubit is around the number needed to meet a sought-after milestone: demonstrating that quantum computers can perform specific tasks that are beyond the reach of traditional computers. Unlike standard bits, which represent either 0 or 1, qubits can indicate a combination of the two, using what’s called a quantum superposition. 

This property allows quantum computers to now perform certain kinds of calculations extremely quick. But because quantum bits are more finicky than standard bits, scaling up is not a simple task. Previously, IBM’s largest quantum processor showcased 17 qubits.

A race is on to commercialize quantum computers, making them available to companies that want to solve problems primarily suited to quantum machines, such as designing new materials or speeding up the search for new medical drugs.

Read more at: https://www.slashgear.com/ibm-reveals-50-qubit-quantum-computer-prototype-11507694/

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