Nvidia has introduced a cloud service built upon the CUDA-Q hybrid quantum computing platform, enabling users to conduct software tests for quantum computing.
Available via multiple major cloud providers, the Nvidia Quanta Cloud aims to support researchers and developers in advancing the exploration of quantum computing across scientific domains such as chemistry, biology, and materials science. Nvidia emphasized that Quantum Cloud, functioning as a microservice, empowers users to develop and test new quantum algorithms and applications in the cloud.
These algorithms and applications encompass simulators for hybrid programming and other related tools. Hybrid quantum computing, which combines quantum and classical computing, can be said to cover the whole current landscape of quantum computing.
As reported by Bloomberg, Nvidia Quantum Cloud currently operates without direct connection to real quantum computers and simulates quantum computer operations through a data center equipped with numerous Artificial Intelligence (AI) chips and systems. However, Nvidia has committed to offering connectivity to third-party quantum computers in the future.
Despite the limited number of real-world applications for quantum computing, many countries worldwide are significantly ramping up their research efforts, driven by the immense future commercial potential of the sector. While Nvidia is entering quantum computing cloud services with Quantum Cloud, it's a relatively late arrival. Microsoft and AWS established a head start in 2019 with their respective offerings, Azure Quantum and Braket, making the market competition fierce.
Nevertheless, Nvidia said that its Quantum Cloud will be integrated into products offered by major cloud service providers including Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI).
Despite a recent push into quantum computing, Nvidia has emerged as one of the major market participants. Its H100 Tensor Core GPU, renowned in AI, also plays a crucial role in quantum computer simulation and research.
For example, Fujitsu's supercomputer ABCI-Q, set to deploy in 2025 for the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Japan, will feature over 2,000 H100 PCUs.
A recent report by Fierce Electronics revealed that Nvidia has partnered with Oracle and Swiss quantum computing leader QMware to develop next-generation hybrid quantum computing services for enterprise customers. This collaboration leverages Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) powered by a cluster of A100 Tensor Core GPUs, combined with the CUDA-Q open-source platform.
CUDA-Q, utilized in this three-party collaboration, serves as the foundational platform for Nvidia's newly launched Quantum Cloud service. Impressively, Nvidia estimates that up to three-quarters of companies deploying quantum processors (QPUs) already rely on CUDA-Q.
