This report <https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/quantum-computing/nec-has-quietly-quit-quantum-computing-hardware-development-report-claims-company-says-it-will-continue-to-evaluate-practical-applications-and-industrialization-of-quantum-technologies>
mentions that NEC has stopped developing quantum computing hardware
and sacked a bunch of its quantum-computing researchers, who have
moved to Fujitsu. The company is trying to deny any shutdown of quantum-computing research efforts as such.

At this stage, no other companies already invested in quantum
computing seem to be planning to wind down their efforts. But as the
needed investment continues to climb, while any prospect of return
remains distant, perhaps this will turn into a real trend.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2026-09-09, Lawrence D?Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> wrote:

This report
<https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/quantum-computing/nec-has-quietly-quit-quantum-computing-hardware-development-report-claims-company-says-it-will-continue-to-evaluate-practical-applications-and-industrialization-of-quantum-technologies>
mentions that NEC has stopped developing quantum computing hardware
and sacked a bunch of its quantum-computing researchers, who have
moved to Fujitsu. The company is trying to deny any shutdown of quantum-computing research efforts as such.

At this stage, no other companies already invested in quantum
computing seem to be planning to wind down their efforts. But as the
needed investment continues to climb, while any prospect of return
remains distant, perhaps this will turn into a real trend.

Does a functional quantum computer actually exist yet? I.e. something that
can usefully execute some algorithm and give repeatable results?

I know there are simulations of "quantum computers", but is the science
still in the lab?

I'm not being negative about this, but genuinely curious if we're on
the cusp of something as revolutionary as the invention of the transistor,
or letting some wishful thinking of how we'd like materials to behave
fuel a funding frenzy..


--
Ian

"Tamahome!!!" - "Miaka!!!"

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Wed, 9 Sep 2026 07:49:15 -0000 (UTC), Ian wrote:

Does a functional quantum computer actually exist yet? I.e.
something that can usefully execute some algorithm and give
repeatable results?

There have been quantum analog computers that, like the analog
computers of old, are good at solving physical-modelling problems
rapidly, but with limited precision.

Examples are the machines from D-Wave <https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/08/d-wave-on-rails-company-tests-entanglement-on-its-dual-rail-qubits/>.

However, quantum *digital* computers, that can do number-theoretic
operations of the sort you need to implement Shor?s Algorithm, for
example, don?t exist.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

<${send-direct-email-to-news1021-at-jusme-dot-com-if-you-must}@jusme.com> wrote:

Does a functional quantum computer actually exist yet? I.e. something that >can usefully execute some algorithm and give repeatable results?

1. Yes, a functional quantum computer exists. Many have been built.

2. Quantum computers do not execute algorithms. They are not like
von Neumann machines, but more like analogue computers that solve
sets of simultaneous equations. In the case of quantum computers,
they solve optimization problems.

Do they give repeatable results? Yes, within an error margin, just like analogue computers do. Are they useful? They are useful to solve optimization problems.

I'm not being negative about this, but genuinely curious if we're on
the cusp of something as revolutionary as the invention of the transistor,
or letting some wishful thinking of how we'd like materials to behave
fuel a funding frenzy..

Can your problem be set up as an optimization problem? If so, a quantum computer will be useful for you. If not, it won't be. This is why there
is a whole new field of trying to modify a whole lot of different kinds of problems to make them into optimization problems.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)