Computing the Impossible #TechVision In September 2021, Goldman Sachs released a paper, alongside partners IonQ and QC Ware, that captured the practical demonstration of a quantum algorithm for Monte Carlo simulations 184 on a Quantum Processing Unit. Monte Carlo simulations are complex probabilistic forecasts used to predict outcomes with highly uncertain variables – and they can be very computationally intensive. They are used in a wide range of applications including sales forecasting, robotics, drug discovery, and of course, financial markets. By finding a faster way to execute these simulations, Goldman Sachs is positioning itself to better forecast markets, evaluate risk in financial instruments, and more. And the company has already announced they expect their quantum algorithms to run on quantum computers that will 185 be available within the next two to four years. Each one of these compute areas – HPC, bio- inspired compute, and quantum – contributes to a specific niche, but taken as a whole, a clear trend emerges: We are in the midst of an evolution towards machines that, down to the very physics of their operation, are unlike any in existence today. As they grow, they will expand the window of what’s possible. Introduction // WebMe // Programmable World // The Unreal // Computing the Impossible 82