Amid the Great Depression, Grant Leslie, a St. Louis, Missouri, salesman, came up with the ingenious idea of selling packaged macaroni pasta alongside cheese. The meal itself was cheap yet palatable and nourishing. So, Leslie went about attaching packets of grated cheese to boxes of pasta, which quickly became a huge hit.

In 1937, Kraft took inspiration from Leslie and introduced its own brand of boxed macaroni and cheese. Priced at less than 20 cents per box, Krafts newfound, nonperishable product was revered as an affordable option for Americans looking to feed their families. Kraft sold over 8 million boxes in just one year and has since enjoyed many successes both during times of hardship and prosperity.

Kraft Mac & Cheese remains a favorite comfort food amongst budget-conscious consumers today. The packaged food item may not be the healthiest meal option available, but it does offer something thats simple to make and delicious. Then, in November, news of the brands first-ever plant-based product made headlines. Called Kraft NotMac&Cheese, the new mac and cheese alternative is currently available in two flavors original and white cheddar with shells each priced at $3.49 per box. Its also made in partnership with TheNotCompany, Inc., a food-tech company producing plant-based alternatives to animal-based food products.

While many may regard boxed mac and cheese as junk food, Kraft is not alone in adapting their formula to be more focused on customers health and dietary goals.

The company faces competition from several pasta-focused brands that have marketed themselves as healthy options. Goodles, the noodle company that partnered with Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot in 2021 and contains added fiber and protein, sells two plant-based mac and cheese items: the gluten-free Vegan Be Heroes pasta and the Vegan Is Believin pasta. Banza, Daiya and Annies also offer similar dairy-free products.

A simple trip to the supermarket shows just how much the macaroni and cheese aisle has expanded in recent years, with a kaleidoscopic array of products touting the nutritional benefits of their contents. But how did we get to the point where boxed macaroni and cheese is now a health food (or at least a healthier food than it used to be)?

A large part of this development mimics the way the overall market has adapted to meet customers increasing interest in plant-based eating.

The Kraft Heinz Not Company creates plant-based versions of fan-favorite foods that taste like the real thing, yet dont require people to drastically change their eating habits, said Lucho Lopez-May, CEO of The Kraft Heinz Not Co., per Food Business News. Leveraging the strengths of both companies, were offering the creamy and comforting experience Kraft Mac & Cheese fans have loved for over 85 years without the dairy.

Krafts latest initiative is part of an ongoing trend of boxed mac and cheese brands embracing veganism. Plant-based product sales surged 44.5% in 2022 to an astounding $8 billion, according to the Plant-Based Foods Association. Studies show that consumers also have a huge appetite for vegan goods. And many are even intent on eating more plant-based foods.

Last year, market research firm Wakefield Research surveyed 1,000 nationally representative U.S. adults for Saputo Dairy USA's Vitalite dairy-free cheese brand. The firm found that a third (31%) of Americans substituted meat, cheese or dairy with a plant-based alternative in an average of eight meals a week. It also revealed that 34% of Americans expressed some interest in adopting a vegan lifestyle, and 18% said theyd be more open to doing so if they could make non-vegan exceptions, which indicates that the plant-based food market has room to grow.

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This is especially true among younger consumers. Multiple studies have shown that Gen Z is consuming less meat and dairy than prior generations and are making purchasing decisions based on those preferences as the Brightfield Group, a marketing research firm, noted in 2023.

Although Gen Z is not any more vegan or vegetarian than other generations, almost 60% of these consumers report that plant-based foods are not only better for the environment but also healthier, they wrote. Even over the last year, [data] reveals a decline in purchases of traditional animal-based products. With about a 9% decline in purchases of bacon (pork) and a 7% decline in purchases of chicken, it's clear that Gen Z's preferences are making an impact.

In 2019, The Guardian described a phenomenon called the vegan halo effect, by which companies that have gone plant-based have reaped the rewards: boosts in sales. Indeed thats what the Kraft Heinz Company (KHC) seeks to accomplish as it looks to satisfy changing consumer tastes for processed foods. KHC, which previously admitted that some of its most iconic products have become a little bit dusty, has since been innovating its selection of foods in hopes of increasing the companys net sales by $2 billion through 2027.

Krafts all-new vegan cheese sauce is made with fava bean protein and coconut oil powder, and has a similar taste, look and feel to dairy-based mac and cheese, the company told CNN. Those who have taste-tested Kraft NotMac&Cheese said they were pleasantly surprised. The texture and consistency were nearly identical to the dairy version, but its taste was not nearly as similar, said one reviewer for The Kitchn. In fact, the taste was described as almost sweet, akin to a butternut squash mac and cheese and not the Kraft Original.

Kraft NotMac&Cheese is certainly catching the attention of its consumers. As for whether it will fare well and help boost company profits, only time will tell.

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"Vegan halo": Why the boxed macaroni and cheese market is increasingly going plant-based - Salon

SolStream, an innovative decentralized super app operating on the Solana blockchain, has achieved a significant milestone with the successful launch of its Beta version across multiple major cryptocurrency exchanges. This development underscores the projects ambition to establish itself as the foremost Web3 streaming discovery protocol.

SolStream transcends conventional streaming platforms by offering a comprehensive super app tailored explicitly for the Web3 environment. This unique approach empowers both creators and viewers to harness the potential of blockchain technology, promising a more rewarding and transparent streaming experience.

Utilizing the Solana blockchain infrastructure, SolStream ensures rapid transaction speeds and minimal fees, enhancing user experience while mitigating excessive gas costs. The platform caters specifically to Web3 creators, spanning various domains such as gaming, video production, and key opinion leaders (KOLs), providing them with essential tools and resources for success in the decentralized realm.

SolStream embraces the popular play-to-earn model, enabling users to engage with content while potentially earning rewards through its native token, STREAM. This incentivized approach fosters active participation and cultivates a vibrant community within the platform.

SolStream envisions itself as a central hub for Web3 streaming, prioritizing openness and interoperability over a closed ecosystem. The platform facilitates seamless integration with other Web3 applications and services, fostering a connected ecosystem conducive to innovation and growth.

SolStream has forged strategic partnerships with key players in the Web3 space to enhance its offerings:

Filecoin: Ensures secure and decentralized storage of streamed content. Livepeer: Provides cutting-edge streaming infrastructure for high-quality, low-latency video experiences.

SolStreams commitment to innovation is underscored by its impressive track record, including victories in hackathons sponsored by industry leaders such as Filecoin, Aave, and Polygon. These accolades validate SolStreams potential and underscore its promise for the future of Web3 streaming.

Looking ahead, SolStream has ambitious plans to further its impact and reach within the Web3 ecosystem:

DApp and Whitepaper: Interested users can explore the SolStream DApp and delve into the projects comprehensive whitepaper for detailed insights. Community Building: SolStream actively engages with users on platforms like Telegram to foster discussions, gather feedback, and cultivate a loyal community. SDK Development: SolStream aims to develop a robust software development kit (SDK) to empower developers in integrating SolStream functionalities into their own Web3 applications, fostering innovation and expanding SolStreams influence.

SolStream emerges as a beacon of hope in the realm of Web3 streaming, offering a solution founded on decentralization, transparency, and community empowerment. With its innovative approach, strategic partnerships, and unwavering focus on user-centric development, SolStream is poised to redefine the landscape of content creation and consumption in the Web3 era.

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Solana Blockchain Based SolStream: Pioneering Web3 Streaming with Decentralized Super App - CoinTrust

Vitalik Buterin proposes a hard fork strategy for Ethereum to protect funds against quantum computer attacks, sparking a community-wide discussion on quantum security.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has proposed a hard fork strategy. This preemptive measure is designed to protect user funds in the event that quantum computers become capable of breaking current cryptographic defenses.

The proposal, outlined in a discussion on the Ethereum Research forum, highlights the urgency of preparing for quantum computers' ability to solve problems like the discrete logarithm, which underpins the security of many current cryptographic algorithms including those used by Ethereum.

The proposed hard fork would entail the following steps:

The conversation in the Ethereum community is informed by a range of expert inputs. One participant shared a visual aid to help understand the proof statement, while others discussed existing quantum-secure fallbacks for wallets and the integration of preimages into ECDSA signature nonces to create fail-stop signature schemes.

Some community members have cautioned that if quantum computers capable of cracking Ethereum wallets are already in malicious hands, it might be too late to differentiate between legitimate owners and attackers. They suggest that instead of relying on stateful post-quantum algorithms, Ethereum should use NIST standardized ones in hybrid mode with a classical algorithm, like combining Dilithium with ed25519. This would, however, increase block sizes due to the large signature and public key sizes of current post-quantum schemes.

Others have proposed the development of machine learning systems to monitor and detect abnormal transactions as an early warning system to trigger a fail-safe fork.

The community's response underlines the importance of staying ahead in the security arms race against quantum computing. Innovations such as Lamport signatures and ERC 4337-based quantum-resistant smart contract wallets are already in development, as is the integration of quantum-safe cryptographic measures in other digital signature applications.

This initiative by the Ethereum community reflects the broader blockchain ecosystem's commitment to resilience and adaptability in the face of emerging technological threats. As quantum computing advances, the blockchain sector's proactive stance on security promises to be a critical factor in its long-term viability and trustworthiness.

The Ethereum team and community's proactive approach to quantum security demonstrates a clear recognition of the challenges ahead and a willingness to address them head-on. This ongoing conversation will likely shape the future of Ethereum's infrastructure and set a precedent for other blockchain platforms.

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Vitalik Buterin Proposes a Quantum-Resistant Hard Fork for Ethereum - Blockchain.News

Insider Brief

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has proposed a hard fork strategy aimed at safeguarding Ethereum funds against potential quantum computer attacks. This proposal has ignited a widespread discussion on the necessity of quantum security measures within the blockchain ecosystem, as reported by Blockchain.News.

Buterins proposed strategy involves a series of measures designed to fortify Ethereums defenses in the event of a quantum computing breach.

A quantum computers theoretical ability to solve certain mathematical problems far more efficiently than classical computers are the cause for concern. These cryptographic techniques serve as much of blockchains security. Quantum computers could again, theoretically undermine Ethereums cryptographic bedrock by decrypting private keys and compromising the integrity of smart contracts. This quantum capability could also disrupt consensus mechanisms, centralizing control or threatening the security of staked assets, which would Ethereums long-term viability and undermining trust in the platform.

Key Steps

Key steps were discussed in the Ethereum Research forum. The steps include the reversion of all blocks subsequent to the detection of a quantum attack, the suspension of traditional externally owned account (EOA) transactions to prevent further vulnerabilities, and the introduction of a new transaction type tailored for smart contract wallets that aligns with the anticipated RIP-7560 standard.

The proposal also outlines the implementation of an innovative transaction type or opcode that would enable users to submit STARK proofs. These proofs verify the users knowledge of a private preimage and a public address generated through approved hash functions, culminating in the replacement of the users account code with a quantum-resistant validation mechanism.

Among these deliberations, the web site reported that some community members voiced concerns that these measures would not be effective if people with malevolent intentions secure quantum computers capable of decrypting Ethereum wallets. These skeptics argue that distinguishing between legitimate owners and attackers could be extremely difficult under such circumstances. They advocate for the adoption of NIST standardized algorithms in a hybrid configuration with classical algorithms, such as combining the Dilithium and ed25519 algorithms, despite the resultant increase in block sizes due to the high number of signature and public key sizes of many current post-quantum schemes.

Alternative propositions include the development of machine learning systems dedicated to the surveillance and identification of anomalous transactions, serving as an early warning mechanism to activate a fail-safe fork.

The Ethereum communitys engagement with these quantum security challenges underscores the sectors proactive stance in navigating the security arms race posed by quantum computing advancements. Innovations such as Lamport signatures and ERC 4337-based quantum-resistant smart contract wallets, along with the integration of quantum-safe cryptographic solutions in digital signature applications, epitomize the blockchain sectors commitment to resilience and adaptability in the face of technological threats.

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Vitalik Buterin Proposes Hard-Fork Strategy to Protect Ethereum From Quantum Attacks - The Quantum Insider

The ETHTaipei Ethereum Developer Conference is set to take place from March 21 to March 24 in Taipei featuring a lineup of international speakers and teams, including Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin. ETHTaipei is expected to attract over 1,000 attendees.

The four-day event includes two days of conferences and a 40-hour hackathon, offering a direct exchange platform for both Taiwanese and international developers. Topics will focus around Ethereum, ZK (Zero Knowledge), DeFi, and Security, with discussions on latest trends and developments in blockchain technology such as the restaking ecosystem, applications and products of ZK, and the innovative interplay between ZK and AI.

Vitalik Buterin to Share Ethereum's Post-Dencun Upgrade Vision

ETHTaipei will feature a number of high-profile speakers, including Vitalik Buterin, who will deliver a keynote talk on the first day of the conference (March 21). Buterin will share his vision for the future of blockchain and Ethereum, following the recent Dencun upgrade.

The Dencun upgrade, which was completed today, will help improve the performance and scalability of the Ethereum network. At ETHTaipei, Buterin will share more about Ethereum's long-term roadmap and his thoughts on the development of the entire blockchain ecosystem. He will also participate in two panel discussions with researchers and leaders from L1 and L2 solutions, including Optimism, Polygon, Zircuit, and Metis.

Hackathon Prize Pool Reaches $65,000

The hackathon, which kicks off on the evening of March 22, has already accumulated a prize pool exceeding $65,000. The prize pool comes from a number of well-known domestic and international teams, including Consensys, Polygon, OP Labs, Mint Club, Ora, Zircuit, MACI, Ten Protocol, Dyson, Morpheus Labs, OpSec, ThunderCoreScrollSpacemesh, and more.

The hackathon will be held in a hybrid format, allowing for online anonymous participation. On-site amenities include a 24-hour Hacker House and a variety of snacks and beverages, fostering collaboration among developers. Industry experts will serve as hackathon mentors, enabling participants to engage with seasoned professionals and rapidly enhance their skills.

Circle and Quantstamp to Recruit On-Site

Several blockchain companies, including Circle, Quantstamp, XY Finance, and AppWorks, will be present at the booth area, offering face-to-face interactions and recruitment opportunities for developers. In addition, Taiwan Ministry of Digital Affairss Digi Gold Card program will be providing consultation services at the event, with the aim of attracting more foreign digital talent to Taiwan and contributing to the development of the country's digital economy. Nuvo will also be offering on-site tasks and event surprises to add to the fun for attendees and hackers.

ETHTaipei has garnered enthusiastic support from various enterprises. BTSE generously sponsors coffee, Taiwan Mobile provides high-speed broadband internet, and KlickKlack offers wireless network equipment, and we also get vouchers from ShiYun Fried Chicken. Attendees can also enjoy exclusive treats from PaperPlane and several bars. Expect a rich agenda and delightful dining experiences, making this a memorable gathering in Taipei.

ETHTaipei 2024 Event Information

Date: March 21-24, 2024 Location: POPUP Taipei Tickets and event information:https://ethtaipei.org/

Media Contact

ETHTaipei Team ethtaipei23@gmail.com Hana Chang +886-975-856-705

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ETHTaipei: Vitalik Buterin to Share Ethereum's Post-Dencun Upgrade Vision - U.Today

(WO) OQC announced that Chevron Technology Ventures, part of Chevron Corporation, has joined its $100m Series B funding round.

Quantum computing in the oil and gas market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 37.9%, owing to the increasing demand for efficient optimization and simulation across the sector. Chevron's investment marks a significant move by a supermajor into the rapidly evolving field of quantum computing.

"OQC's development of the quantum computer has the potential to change the information processing landscape by merging the bounds of engineering and physics," said Jim Gable, Vice President, Innovation and President of Technology Ventures at Chevron. "This is the latest investment from our Core Energy Fund, which focuses on high-tech, high-growth startups and breakthrough technologies that could improve Chevron's core oil and gas business performance as well as create new opportunities for growth."

A quantum future for oil and gas. OQC's technology provides several potential groundbreaking opportunities for the oil and gas sector, including the development and optimization of catalysts and the efficiency of transportation and distribution networks. Quantum is anticipated to accelerate the oil and gas industry's discovery and development of new materials through the simulation of complex molecules to lower carbon products.

To realize this future, the oil and gas industry requires secure, accessible and powerful quantum computing that is integrated with existing high-performance computing. Prior to the launch of OQC Toshiko, quantum computers were only available in labs, making secure access for companies and integration with existing high-performance computing the largest barriers to wider business adoption of this groundbreaking technology.

Commenting on the news, Ilana Wisby, Chief Executive Officer at OQC, said, "Chevron's investment marks a significant milestone in harnessing quantum computing for the energy sector. We're excited to drive innovation and efficiency in exploration and renewables and pioneer enterprise-ready quantum in the energy sector."

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Chevron invests in quantum computing development for oil and gas market - WorldOil

The computational demands of various sectors, such as drug discovery, materials science, and AI are skyrocketing. Graphics processing units (GPUs) have been at the forefront of this journey, serving as the backbone for tasks demanding high parallel processing capabilities. Their integration into data centers has marked a significant advancement in computational technology.

As we push the boundaries of what's computationally possible, however, the limitations of GPUs become apparent, especially when facing problems that classical computing struggles to solve efficiently. Enter the quantum processing unit (QPU), a technology that promises not just to complement but potentially transcend the capabilities of GPUs, heralding a new era in computational science.

A quantum processing unit, or QPU, uses qubits and quantum circuit model architecture to solve problems that are too computationally intensive for classical computing. Its potential is analogous to the transformational impact the GPU had on computing in the 2000s.

More From Yuval BogerWhat Role Will Open-Source Development Play in Quantum Computing?

The binary system is at the core of classical computing, with bits that exist in one of two states: zero or one. Through logic gates within the von Neumann architecture (an architecture that includes a CPU, memory, I/O, and data bus), this binary processing has propelled technological progress for decades. GPUs, enhancing this system, offer parallel processing by managing thousands of threads simultaneously, significantly outpacing traditional CPUs for specific tasks.

Despite their prowess, GPUs are still bound by the linear progression of classical algorithms and the binary limitation of bits, making some complex problems inefficient and energy-intensive to solve. A key reason for this linear progression limitation is that a classical algorithm can only process one possible solution at a time.

The integration of GPUs into data centers began in the late 1990s and early 2000s, initially focused on graphics rendering. NVIDIAs GeForce 256, released in 1999 and billed as the worlds first GPU, marked a significant shift towards GPUs as programmable units rather than merely graphics accelerators. Their general-purpose computing potential was realized in the mid-2000s with NVIDIAs introduction of CUDA in 2006, enabling GPUs to handle computational tasks beyond graphics, such as simulations and financial modeling.

The democratization of GPU computing spurred its adoption for scientific computing and AI, particularly benefiting from GPUs parallel processing capabilities. This led to wider use in research and high-performance computing, driving significant advancements in GPU architecture.

By the early 2010s, the demand for big data processing and AI applications accelerated GPU adoption in cloud services. This period also saw the rise of specialized AI data centers optimized for GPU clusters, enhancing the training of complex neural networks.

The 2020s have seen continued growth in GPU demand, driven by deep learning applications in natural language processing, computer vision, and speech recognition. Modern deep learning frameworks and the introduction of specialized AI accelerators, such as Googles TPU and NVIDIAs Tensor Core GPUs, underscore the critical role of GPUs in AI development and the evolving landscape of computational hardware in data centers.

Despite these developments, GPUs did not displace traditional CPUs. Rather, they ran side by side. We saw the rise of heterogeneous computing: the increasingly popular integration of GPUs with CPUs and other specialized hardware within a single system. This allows different processors to handle tasks best suited to their strengths, leading to improved overall efficiency and performance.

Quantum computing introduces a transformative approach to computing with the concept of qubits. Unlike classical bits, qubits can exist in a state of superposition, embodying both zero and one simultaneously. This characteristic, along with quantum entanglement, enables quantum computers to process information on a scale that classical machines cant match. Quantum gates manipulate these qubits, facilitating parallel processing across exponentially larger data sets.

Quantum gates are the fundamental building blocks of quantum circuits, analogous to logic gates in classical computing, but designed for operations on qubits instead of classical bits. Quantum gates manipulate the state of qubits according to the principles of quantum mechanics, enabling the execution of quantum algorithms. Some quantum gates operate only on a single qubit, whereas others operate on two or more qubits. Multi-qubit gates are critical to exploiting the entangle and superposition properties of quantum computing.

The quantum computing field is grappling with challenges like qubit stability and effective quantum error correction, however, which are crucial for achieving scalable quantum computing. Qubits are inherently fragile and can be affected by a variety of environmental conditions. Therefore, maintaining a stable qubit state is challenging, and researchers still must develop special techniques to detect and correct unwanted changes in the qubit state.

QPU technology is poised to revolutionize areas where classical computing reaches its limits. In drug discovery, for instance, QPUs could simulate molecular interactions at scales never before possible, expediting the creation of new therapeutics. Materials science could benefit from the design of novel materials with tailored properties. In finance, QPUs could enhance complex model optimizations and risk analysis. In AI, they could lead to algorithms that learn more efficiently from less data. QPUs are thus able to tackle problems that CPUs and GPUs cannot and never will, and thus open new frontiers of discovery and innovation.

Although GPUs have revolutionized data center operations, they also bring formidable challenges. The voracious GPU appetite for power generates significant heat, which demands sophisticated and often expensive cooling systems to maintain optimal performance levels. This not only increases the operational costs but also raises environmental concerns due to the high energy consumption required for both running the units and cooling them.

In addition to these physical constraints, the technological landscape in which GPUs operate is rapidly evolving. The constant need for updates and upgrades to accommodate new software demands and improve processing capabilities presents substantial logistical and financial hurdles. This strains resources and complicates long-term planning for data center infrastructure.

QPUs promise to address many of these challenges. QPUs perform computations in ways fundamentally different from classical systems. Specifically, the intrinsic ability of qubits to exist in multiple states simultaneously allows QPUs to tackle complex problems more effectively, reducing the need for constant hardware upgrades. This promises not only a leap in computational power but also a move towards more sustainable and cost-effective computing solutions, directly addressing the critical limitations faced by GPUs in todays data centers.

The journey toward QPU adoption in computational infrastructures is laden with hurdles, though. Achieving stable, large-scale quantum systems and ensuring reliable computations through quantum error correction are paramount challenges. Some types of quantum computers require special cooling and environmental conditions that are uncommon in data centers and thus require adaptation.

Additionally, the quantum software development field is in its infancy, necessitating the creation of new programming tools and languages. To make use of the quantum properties of QPUs, just translating classical algorithms is insufficient. Instead, we will need to invent new types of algorithms. Just like GPUs allow us to leverage parallel processing, QPUs allow us to execute code differently. Despite these obstacles, ongoing research and development are gradually paving the way for QPUs to play a central role in future computational tasks.

Today, QPU integration into broader computational infrastructures and their practical application in industry and research is still in the nascent stages. The development and commercial availability of quantum computers is growing, with several companies and research institutions demonstrating quantum advantage and offering cloud-based quantum computing services.

How close are QPUs to taking a prime position next to GPUs? In other words, if we were to compare the development of QPUs with the historical development of GPUs, what year would we be in now?

Drawing a parallel with the GPU timeline, the current stage of QPU integration closely mirrors the GPU landscape in the mid-2000s, when GPUs became general-purpose computing machines that were adopted for niche applications.

Given these considerations, the current stage of QPU integration might be analogous to the GPU industry around 2006-2007. That was a time of pivotal change, where the foundational technologies and programming models that would enable widespread adoption were just being established. For QPUs, the development of quantum algorithms, error correction techniques, and qubit coherence are akin to the early challenges faced by GPUs in transitioning to general-purpose computing.

More on Quantum ComputingAre You Prepared for the Quantum Revolution?

In summary, although GPUs continue to play a critical role in advancing computational capacities, the integration of QPUs into data centers holds the promise of overcoming the operational and environmental challenges posed by current technologies. With their potential for lower power consumption, reduced heat output, and diminished need for frequent upgrades, QPUs represent a hopeful horizon in the quest for more efficient, sustainable, and powerful computing solutions. QPUs wont replace GPUs, just like GPUs did not eliminate classical CPUs. Instead, the data center of the future will include all three computing methods.

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Why the QPU Is the Next GPU - Built In

The sponsors of a new $5 million prize want to boost the quantum computing industry by encouraging developers to write new algorithms to help the emerging technology solve real-world problems.

The new Quantum for Real-World Impact contest, from the XPRIZE Foundation, aims to speed the development of quantum computing algorithms focused on sustainability, health, and other societal issues. The three-year contest, sponsored by Google Quantum AI and the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator Foundation, wants to unleash the potential of quantum computing, according to the contest site.

Currently, quantum computers are not sufficiently advanced enough to solve real-world societal problems that classical computers cannot, the contest site says. However, as the technology advances, relatively few companies and university researchers are focused on translating quantum algorithms into real-world application scenarios and assessing their feasibility to address global challenges once sufficiently powerful hardware is available.

The new contest is crucial for the advancement of quantum computing, said Rebecca Krauthamer, co-founder and chief product officer at QuSecure, a vendor of quantum-resilient cybersecurity tools.

XPRIZE has a powerful history of pushing forward advancements in cutting-edge technology in spaceflight, conservation, advanced medicine, and more, she said. The contest signifies were in a truly exciting time for quantum computing.

Quantum computing hardware development still has a significant road ahead, she added, but much of the innovation from the technology will come from new algorithms and the application of quantum computers to real-world problems.

The contest provides the recognition of the great potential of quantum computing for both commercial and societal gain, she added.

Contestants can write new algorithms to solve new problems using quantum computing, they can show how existing algorithms can be used to solve previously unknown applications of quantum computing, or they can show ways to reduce the computing resources needed for a quantum computer to work on already established algorithms or applications.

Examples of possible contest entries include:

The contest is a good starting point for quantum computing in business models, said Jim Ingraham, vice president of strategic research, EPB of Chattanooga, a power and telecommunications company that launched a quantum-powered network in late 2022. Commercialization is the next essential step for bringing quantum technologies out of the lab and into the real world, he said.

The EPB Quantum Network was another step forward, he added. The network provides access to the necessary proving ground for quantum technologists to show investment worthiness and commercial viability, he said. This is a necessary step to help companies, government agencies and researchers accelerate the development of their technologies.

The contest may assist companies that havent found a way to profit from quantum computing innovation, added Lawrence Gasman, founder and president of Inside Quantum Technology, a quantum research firm.

It may bring in firms that could otherwise not survive, he said. This implies that the use of money is carefully vetted and only goes to firms that can make money in the short-to-medium term.

While quantum computing is not yet mainstream, that day is coming, said QuSecures Krauthamer.

When you see a news headline stating that quantum computers have been used to solve a problem that you recognize something like enhancing battery technology, or optimizing financial portfolios, or improving greenhouse emissions thats when youll know that quantum computing has gone mainstream, she said. We will begin seeing these headlines more in the next couple of years.

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What is quantum computing good for? XPRIZE and Google offer cash for answers - Network World

Quantum computing theory dates back to the 1980s, but it's really only in the last five to ten years or so that weve seen it advance enough to the point it could realistically become a commercial enterprise.

Most quantum computing companies have been academic-led science ventures; companies founded by PhDs leading teams of PhDs. But, as the industry matures and companies look towards a future of manufacturing and operating quantum computers at a production-scale, the employee demographics are changing.

While R&D will always play a core part of every technology company, making quantum computers viable out in the real world means these startups are thinking about how to build, maintain, and operate SLA-bound systems in production environments.

This new phase in the industry requires companies to change mindset, technology, and staff.

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20 Dec 2023

At quantum computing firm Atom Computing, around 40 of the companys 70 employees have PhDs, many joining straight out of academia. This kind of academic-heavy employee demographic is commonplace across the quantum industry.

I'd venture that over half of our company doesn't have experience working at a company previously, says Rob Hays, CEO of Atom. So theres an interesting bridge between the academic culture versus the Silicon Valley tech startup; those are two different worlds and trying to bridge people from one world to the other is challenging. And it's something you have to focus and work on openly and actively.

Maturing from small startups into large companies with demanding customers and shareholders is a well-trodden path for hundreds of technology companies in Silicon Valley and across the world.

And quantum computers are getting there: the likes of IonQ, Rigetti, and D-Wave are already listed in the Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange although the latter two companies have had to deal at various times with the prospect of being de-listed due to low stock prices.

Most of the quantum companies DCD spoke to for this piece are undergoing a transition from pure R&D mode to a more operational and engineering phase.

When I first joined four years ago, the company was entirely PhDs, says Peter Chapman, IonQ CEO. We're now in the middle of a cultural change from an academic organization and moving to an engineering organization. We've stopped hiring PhDs; most of the people we're hiring nowadays are software, mechanical, and hardware engineers. And the next phase is to a customer-focused product company.

Chapman points to the hirings of the likes of Pat Tan and Dean Kassmann previously at Amazons hardware-focused Lab126 and rocket firm Blue Origin, respectively as evidence of the company moving to a more product- and engineering-focused workforce.

2023 also saw Chris Monroe, IonQ co-founder and chief scientist, leave the company to return to academia at North Carolinas Duke University.

During the earnings call announcing Monroes departure, Chapman said: Chris would be the first one to tell you that the physics behind what IonQ is doing is now solved. It's [now] largely an engineering problem.

Atoms Hays notes a lot of the engineering work that the company is doing to get ready for cloud services and applications is software-based, meaning the company is looking for software engineers.

We are mostly looking for people that have worked at cloud service providers or large software companies and have an interest in either learning or already some foundational knowledge of the underlying physics and science, he says. But we're kind of fortunate that those people self-select and find us. We have a pretty high number of software engineers who have physics undergrads and an extreme interest in quantum mechanics, even though by trade and experience they're software engineers.

On-premise quantum computers are currently rarities largely reserved for national computing labs and academic institutions. Most quantum processing unit (QPU) providers offer access to their systems via their own web portals and through public cloud providers.

But todays systems are rarely expected (or contracted) to run with the five-9s resiliency and redundancy we might expect from tried and tested silicon hardware.

Right now, quantum systems are more like supercomputers and they're managed with a queue; they're probably not online 24 hours, users enter jobs into a queue and get answers back as the queue executes, says Atoms Hays.

We are approaching how we get closer to 24/7 and how we build in redundancy and failover so that if one system has come offline for maintenance, there's another one available at all times. How do we build a system architecturally and engineering-wise, where we can do hot swaps or upgrades or changes with minimal downtime as possible?

Other providers are going through similar teething phases of how to make their systems which are currently sensitive, temperamental, and complicated enterprise-ready for the data centers of the world.

I already have a firm SLA with the cloud guys around the amount of time that we do jobs on a daily basis, and the timeframes to be able to do that, says Chapman. We are moving that SLA to 24/7 and being able to do that without having an operator present. It's not perfect, but its getting better. In three or four years from now, you'll only need an on-call when a component dies.

Rigetti CTO David Rivas says his company is also working towards higher uptimes.

The systems themselves are becoming more and more lights out every quarter, he says, as we outfit them for that kind of remote operation and ensure that the production facilities can be outfitted for that kind of operation.

Rigetti

Manufacturing and repair of these systems is also maturing, since the first PhD-built generations of quantum computers. These will never be mass-produced, but the industry needs to move away from one-off artisanal machines to a more production line-like approach.

A lot of the hardware does get built with the assistance of electronics engineers, mechanical engineers, says Atoms Hays, but much is still built by experimental physicists.

IonQs Chapman adds: In our first-generation systems, you needed a physicist with a screwdriver to tune the machine to be able to run your application. But every generation of hardware puts more under software control.

Everywhere a screwdriver could be turned, there's now a stepper motor under software control, and the operating system is now doing the tuning.

Simon Phillips, CTO of the UKs Oxford Quantum Circuits, says OQC is focused on how it hires staff and works with partners to roll out QPUs into colocation data centers.

And the first part of that starts with if we put 10 QPUs in 10 locations around the world, how do we do that without having an army of 100 quantum engineers on each installation?

And the first part of that starts with having a separate deployment team and a site reliability engineering team that can then run the SLA on that machine.

He adds: Not all problems are quantum problems. It can't just be quantum engineers; it's not scalable if it's the same people doing everything.

It's about training and understanding where the first and second lines of support sit, having a cascading system, and utilizing any smart hands so we can train people who already exist in data centers.

IonQ

While the quantum startups are undergoing their own maturing process, their suppliers are also being forced to learn about the needs of commercial operators and what it means to deploy in a production data center.

For years, the supply chain including for the dilution refrigerators that keep many quantum computers supercooled has dealt with largely self-reliant academic customers in lab spaces.

Richard Moulds, general manager of Amazon Braket at AWS, told DCD the dilution refrigerator market is a cottage industry with few suppliers.

One of the main fridge suppliers is Oxford Instruments, an Oxford University spin-out from the late 1950s that released the first commercial dilution unit back in 1966. The other large incumbent, Blufors, was spun out of what is now the Low Temperature Laboratory at Aalto University in Finland 15 years ago.

Prior to the quantum computing rush, the biggest change in recent years was the introduction of pulse tube technology. Instead of a cryostat inserted into a bath of liquid helium4, quantum computers could now use a closed loop system (aka a dry fridge/cryostat).

This meant the systems could become smaller, more efficient, more software-controlled - and more user-friendly.

With the wet dilution fridge (or wet cryostat), you need two-floor rooms for ceiling height. You need technicians to top up helium and run liquefiers, you need to buy helium to keep topping up, says Harriet van der Vliet, product segment manager, quantum technologies, Oxford Instruments.

It was quite a manual process and it would take maybe a week just to pre-cool and that would not even be getting to base temperature.

For years, the fridges were the preserve of academics doing materials science; they were more likely to win a Nobel prize than be part of a computing contract.

Historically, it's been a lab product. Our customers were ultra-low temperature (ULT) experts; if anything went wrong, they would fix it themselves, says van der Vliet. Now our customers have moved from being simply academics to being commercial players who need user-friendly systems that are push button.

While the company declined to break out numbers, Oxford said it has seen a noticeable change in the customer demographic towards commercial quantum computing customers in recent years, but also a change in buying trends. QPU companies are more likely to buy multiple fridges at once, rather than a single unit every few years for an academic research lab.

The commercial part is growing for sure, adds David Gunnarsson, CTO at Blufors. The company has expanded factory capacity to almost double production capabilities to meet growing demand.

There have been more and more attempts to create revenue on quantum computing technology. They are buying our systems to actually deploy or have an application that they think they can create money from. We welcome discussion with data centers so they can understand our technology from the cryogenics perspective.

And while the industry is working towards minimizing form factors as much as possible, for the foreseeable future the industry has settled on essentially brute force supercooling with bigger fridges. Both companies have released new dilution fridges designed for quantum computers.

Smaller fridges (and lower qubit-count) systems may be able to fit into racks, but most larger qubit-count supercooled systems require a much larger footprint than traditional racks. Blufors largest Kide system can cool around 1,000 qubits: the system is just under three meters in height and 2.5 meters in diameter, and the floor beneath it needs to be able to take about 7,000 kilograms of weight.

It has changed the way we do our product, says Gunnarsson. They were lab tools before; uptime wasnt discussed much before. Now we are making a lot of changes to our product line to ensure that you can be more certain about what the uptime of your system will be.

Part of the uptime challenge suppliers face around fridges an area where Gunnarsson notes there is still something of a mismatch is in the warm-up/cool-down cycle of the machines.

While previously the wet bath systems could take a week to get to the required temperatures, the new dry systems might only take a day or two each way. That is important, because cooling down and warming up cycles are effectively downtime; a dirty word when talking about service availability.

The speed with which you can get to temperature is almost as important as the size of the chip that you can actually chill, says AWS Moulds. Today, if you want to change the device's physical silicon, you have got to warm this device up and then chill it back down again, that's a four-day cycle. That's a problem; it means machines are offline for a long time for relatively minor changes.

While this might not be an issue for in-operation machines Rigetti CTO Rivas says its machines can be in service for months at a time, while Oxford Instruments says an OQC system was in operation non-stop for more than a year the long warm-up/cool-down cycle is a barrier to rapid testing.

From a production perspective, the systems remain cold for a relatively long time, says Rivas. But we're constantly running chips through test systems as we innovate and grow capacity, and 48 hours to cool a chip down is a long time in an overall development cycle.

Oxford Instruments and Blufors might be the incumbents, but there are a growing number of new players entering the fridge space, some specifically focusing on quantum computing.

The market has grown for dilution fridges, so there are lots more startups in the space as well making different cooling systems, says van der Vliet. There are many more players, but the market is growing.

I think it's really healthy that there's loads of players in the field, particularly new players who are doing things a little bit differently to how we've always done it.

The incumbents are well-placed to continue their lead in the market, but QPU operators are hopeful that competition will result in better products.

There will be genuine intellectual property that will emerge in this area and you'll definitely start to see custom designs and proprietary systems that can maintain temperature in the face of increasing power.

Atoms Hays notes that, for laser-based quantum systems, the lasers themselves are probably the largest constraint in the supply chain. Like the dilution fridges, these are still largely scientific technologies made by a handful of suppliers.

We need relatively high-powered lasers that need to be very quiet and very precise," he says. Ours are off the shelf, but they're semi-custom and manufacturer builds to order. That means that there's long lead times; in some cases up to a year.

He adds that many of the photonic integrated circuits are still relatively small - the size of nickels and dimes - but hopes they can shrink down to semiconductor size in future to help reduce the footprint

For now, the quantum industry is still enjoying what might be the autumn of its happy-go-lucky academic days. The next phase may well lead to quantum supremacy and a new phase in high-performance computing, but it will likely lead to a less open industry.

I think its nice that the industry is still sort of in that mode, says AWS Moulds. The industry is still taking a relatively open approach to the development. We're not yet in the mode of everybody working in their secret bunkers, building secret machines. But history shows that once there's a clear opportunity, there's a risk of the shutters coming down, and it becoming a more cut-throat industry.

In the end, that's good for customers; it drives down costs and drives up reliability and performance. But it might feel that might feel a little bit brutal for some of the academics that are in the industry now.

Read more:

Longer coherence: How the quantum computing industry is maturing - DatacenterDynamics

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How Quantum AI Adapts to Changing Market Trends - Native News Online