SoftBank and Quantinuum have agreed to a wide-ranging partnership in quantum computing. By combining their respective strengths, both companies say they will unlock innovative quantum computing solutions that will overcome the limitations of classical artificial intelligence (AI) and realise next-generation technologies. This initiative coincides with the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ) in 2025, and it is expected to ignite new business opportunities through the dynamic fusion of AI and quantum computing, the companies said in a joint statement on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
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The Challenges AI Still Faces
Although AI is delivering impressive results across various domains, the companies note that significant challenges remain that AI alone is struggling to overcome. Complex optimisation problems, deciphering causal relationship analysis, and conducting high-precision simulations based on fundamental equations remain formidable obstacles for current AI technologies.
By combining Central Processing Units (CPUs), Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), and Quantum Processing Units (QPUs), the hybrid approach, according to the companies, has the potential to further extend the capabilities of AI. By leveraging the strengths of each type of processing unit, hybrid systems can execute more advanced and diverse computations, providing innovative solutions that surpass traditional limitations.
SoftBank and Quantinuum said they "believe in the power of quantum computing and are committed to exploring its transformative potential." However, they acknowledged that several technical and business challenges need to be addressed to advance the state-of-the-art so that quantum computers are used to solve practical problems.
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Key Challenges:
Business Model: The high cost of development and deployment remains a major barrier, with no clear business models yet established for cost recovery.
Use Cases: Additionally, the industry is still in the process of identifying concrete use cases that demonstrate quantum computing’s commercial viability, particularly in fields such as quantum chemistry and machine learning.
Technologies: On the technical side, current quantum hardware lacks the necessary qubit count and operational precision to handle real-world problems, and software advancements in error mitigation are essential for practical usability.
Both companies affirmed their commitment to "addressing these challenges together to advance the practical application of quantum computers."
Strategic initiatives
To address these challenges, SoftBank and Quantinuum have outlined several key initiatives. First, they will conduct global market research, starting with Japan and expanding into the Asia-Pacific region, to explore business models for a hybrid quantum data center. This data center would integrate CPUs, GPUs, and QPUs to provide advanced computational power. The companies will also explore ways to reduce investment risks through revenue and cost-sharing strategies.
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Quantum Use-Case Timelines and Validation
In parallel, SoftBank will provide real-world business challenges as test cases to evaluate the potential of quantum computing. Two primary focus areas have been identified: quantum chemistry and network analysis.
In quantum chemistry, the companies aim to explore new materials for optical switches in All-Optical Networks, a key technology for next-generation telecommunications.
In network analysis, quantum computing could enhance fraud detection and anomaly detection in SoftBank's communication networks, improving security and efficiency.
Another crucial aspect of the partnership will be the development of hybrid computing techniques that effectively link CPUs, GPUs, and QPUs. The companies plan to advance software algorithms that optimise these interactions while also working on solutions for quantum error mitigation and correction. These efforts will be essential for making quantum computing more practical and commercially viable, according to the official release.
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"SoftBank believes in the potential of quantum computers and has been testing and evaluating various internal issues using quantum computers, and has started to obtain certain results. However, as a telecommunications operator, there are still many challenges remaining regarding how to provide quantum computing services in Japan," said Ryuji Wakikawa, Head of Research Institute of Advanced Technology, SoftBank Corp. "Through our collaboration with Quantinuum, which possesses the world's highest-performance quantum computer hardware, we aim to be the first in the world to identify problems that can only be solved by quantum computers and look forward to significantly accelerating the practical application of quantum computing."
