Amazon launches quantum computing service

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced the launch of Braket, a quantum computing service, as well as two research centres for the technology.

This is not to say the world will be revolutionised by quantum computing tomorrow, but the new service allows scientists, researchers, and developers to begin experimenting with computers from quantum hardware providers. As with anything AWS related, the economies of scale afforded through cloud computing services make the prospect of quantum computing more affordable for the ecosystem.

“With quantum engineering starting to make more meaningful progress, customers are asking for ways to experiment with quantum computers and explore the technology’s potential,” said Charlie Bell, SVP of Utility Computing Services at AWS.

“We believe that quantum computing will be a cloud-first technology and that the cloud will be the main way customers access the hardware. With our Amazon Braket service and Amazon Quantum Solutions Lab, we’re making it easier for customers to gain experience using quantum computers and to work with experts from AWS and our partners to figure out how they can benefit from the technology.”

Amazon Braket is a fully managed service is a single development environment which will allow customers to build quantum algorithms, test them on simulated quantum computers. This is the first-step in engaging the ecosystem and democratising a technology which is only accessible (and understood by) a very small number of people around the world.

Alongside the launch of Braket, AWS will also be launching two research centres. The first, the AWS Center for Quantum Computing, which is being established at Caltech, will focus on academic research to further the segment. The second, Amazon Quantum Solutions Lab, will focus on working with customers to make more practical solutions for industry.