Major Quantum Computing Advance Made Obsolete by UT Grad

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Ewin Tang, a University of Texas at Austin graduate, gained significant recognition for disproving a key assumption in quantum computing through his honors thesis at just 18 years old. He demonstrated that classical computers could solve a problem previously thought to be solvable only by quantum computers, challenging the prevailing narrative in the field. This breakthrough has implications for ongoing quantum computing efforts by major tech companies like Google, IBM, and Microsoft. The discussion highlights the rapid evolution of perspectives in quantum computing, noting a recent Quanta Magazine article that labeled Tang's work as making previous advancements in the field obsolete. Additionally, there is mention of ongoing debates regarding the robustness of his findings against other complex problems, such as the Forrelation problem, which remains an open question in the community.
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https://www.cs.utexas.edu/news/2018/major-quantum-computing-advance-made-obsolete-ut-grad

Ewin Tang, a 2018 University of Texas at Austin graduate in computer science and mathematics, is receiving national attention for a feat he accomplished at the age of 18 by disproving, as part of his honors thesis, a widely held assumption about the hottest next-thing in technology, quantum computing.

As Quanta magazine explains in an article out today, Tang's accomplishment involved showing that ordinary computers could, in fact, solve a problem that previously experts had believed only quantum computers could achieve in a rapid way. Companies like Google, IBM & Microsoft already are hard at work attempting to develop quantum computers that can do things today's computers aren't capable of.
 
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I didn’t post the quant mag story because this morning it wouldn’t come up and I thought maybe it got retracted but the UT version was there so I used it. Go Longhorns.
 
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anorlunda said:

How quickly things change!

I get Quanta Magazine sent to my inbox. The title of the above Quanta Magazine article is "Major Quantum Computing Advance Made Obsolete by Teenager". I remember seeing a Quanta Magazine article (link in above article) six weeks ago titled "Finally, a Problem That Only Quantum Computers Will Ever Be Able to Solve", which was about the "Major Quantum Computing Advance" part of the previous title!

https://www.quantamagazine.org/fina...omputers-will-ever-be-able-to-solve-20180621/

This is all quite fascinating for me, as I currently am being forced to learn some elementary quantum computing. After some (good-natured) arm-twisting, I agreed to lead a seminar course on quantum computing. At 4:30 PDT today, we will cover some stuff from chapter 5 of

https://www.amazon.com/dp/019857049X/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Excuse me, as I have some reading to do. :biggrin:
 
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George Jones said:
How quickly things change!

I get Quanta Magazine sent to my inbox. The title of the above Quanta Magazine article is "Major Quantum Computing Advance Made Obsolete by Teenager". I remember seeing a Quanta Magazine article (link in above article) six weeks ago titled "Finally, a Problem That Only Quantum Computers Will Ever Be Able to Solve", which was about the "Major Quantum Computing Advance" part of the previous title!

https://www.quantamagazine.org/fina...omputers-will-ever-be-able-to-solve-20180621/

On a quick read, the Raz and Tal problem is not the "major quantum computing advance" made obsolete.

Scott Aronson blogged about Ewin Tang's result: https://www.scottaaronson.com/blog/?p=3880. At the end of the post he mentions that it remains open whether his Forrelation problem, addressed by Raz and Tal, is Ewin-proof.
 
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