AWS Launches Program to Help Customers Get Started in Quantum

AWS has launched Quantum Embark, a jargon-free advisory service program that aims to help organizations explore how quantum computing could support their business.

It consists of three modules designed to encourage customers to work backward from their most critical and compute-intensive use cases to formulate their own quantum roadmap.

Use Case Discovery focuses on workshops with experts to identify tangible opportunities for introducing quantum computing. This will be used to build an executive-level whitepaper outlining the near and longer-term value of quantum technologies.

Technical Enablement offers users hands-on experience with quantum computing via its Amazon Braket quantum computing service. During a two-day workshop, attendees would learn about how quantum computers perform calculations, work with quantum programming frameworks and practice using a series of prebuilt examples to build, test and run relevant applications.

Deep Dive supports mapping quantum algorithms to target applications identified in the Use Case Discovery module. This element works on building practical expertise in the context of a targeted application that can work on today’s hardware. It includes benchmarking performance to assess result quality across different devices, scalability and systems integration.

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Upon completion of the program, customers have the option of a deeper dive into specific use cases, building a custom research program by collaborating with the Amazon Advanced Solutions Lab.

Australian bank Westpac took part in an advance trial of Quantum Embark.

“We adopt a long-term perspective by exploring emerging, future-ready technologies early,” said Westpac head of innovation and fintech Nick Munro. “Today we are focused on understanding the potential of quantum computing and its potential for transformative effects on our business and those of our customers.”

“Westpac Growth Labs, in collaboration with AWS on Quantum Embark, is taking the next step to identify practical use cases for quantum computing and quantum-inspired solutions in financial services, ensuring our approach is actionable and safe.”

Retail fund management company Vanguard Group also trialed the program.

“It is well known that the advent of quantum computing may have lasting effects on solutions for portfolio optimization and risk prevention but strategically investing in R&D across these areas requires deep domain expertise,” said Vanguard Group head of AI engineering Bimal Mehta.

“Working with expert guidance from AWS through the Quantum Embark program provided us with a structured approach to learning about relevant quantum computing concepts and the latest research findings. Armed with this knowledge, we have identified potential business problems for our quantum research effort and are excited to benchmark these algorithms against diverse hardware.”

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Quantum computing company stocks soared following AWS’s announcement of the Quantum Embark program, including shares of Quantum Computing Inc. rising 14% and Rigetti Computing rising 13%. AWS itself does not have a separate stock listing, but shares in parent company Amazon were up 1.48%.