Technology Vision 2023 | When Atoms meet Bits #TechVision Quantum computers have a “natural” advantage Building supercomputers and quantum computers (over classical computers) in simulating quantum is not cheap, but experimenting with them is mechanics, which governs the behavior of signi昀椀cantly cheaper than before, thanks to cloud molecules, atoms, and electrons. As such, it is platforms. Fire昀氀y Aerospace, for instance, is a startup 95% contributing to the 昀椀eld of chemistry, in perhaps the that relies on cloud supercomputing to do advanced nearest-term application of quantum computers.248 simulations to save massive amounts of money on of global executives Though computational speedups may come prototyping, enabling them to build a rocket to go 250 believe next- with quantum computers, what they provide in to the moon. And while quantum computing still this case is an advantageous level of accuracy in needs time to mature, it’s clear that these computers generation modeling distinct parts of a chemical reaction— have a major role to play helping companies computing will be and this enhanced understanding has many effectively drive science technology feedback loops a major driver of potential applications. and accelerate materials and energy innovation. breakthroughs in For instance, Hyundai is partnering with the their industry over quantum computing startup IonQ to analyze and the next decade. simulate battery materials—in this case lithium 249 oxide, contained in lithium-air batteries. Using hybrid algorithms that leverage computing by both classical and quantum computers, they can improve the chemical makeup for greater ef昀椀ciency and eliminate possible sources of waste.