In a landmark move for its energy industry, Saudi Arabia has unveiled its inaugural quantum computer, signifying a major push towards embracing next-generation technology in its bid to diversify the economy. The collaboration between the nation’s oil giant, Saudi Aramco, and French tech company Pasqal will lead to the construction of a 200-qubit quantum computer, poised for use in the latter half of 2025.
The initiative is set to spearhead the integration of quantum computing within the energy field, offering solutions to complex challenges and broadening the scope of quantum computing applications. Georges-Olivier Reymond, CEO and co-founder of Pasqal, heralded the quantum computer as an unprecedented industrial asset that will usher in a new frontier of business and societal innovation.
Quantum computing harnesses specialized technology to tackle intricate problems, outperforming traditional and supercomputing systems in both speed and efficiency. A qubit, the fundamental quantum computing unit, surpasses the binary bits of classical computers in versatility.
Technology giants globally are currently operating with quantum computers around the 100-qubit capacity. Nonetheless, resolving the most daunting problems may necessitate machines with 100,000 to one million qubits. In a significant development, IBM recently announced the creation of Condor, the world’s first 1,000-qubit chip, which exceeds the capabilities of their previous 433-qubit Osprey chip. Furthermore, Microsoft and Quantinuum have introduced innovations aimed at reducing quantum computing algorithm inaccuracies, based on the most dependable logical qubits to date.
The quantum computing venture aligns with Saudi Arabia’s technological advancement efforts, enhancing its initiatives and investment attraction to ready the nation for a future-oriented economy. This high-tech addition is expected to bolster Saudi Aramco’s business processes and signify its dedication to the burgeoning digital economy, according to Ahmad Al Khowaiter, the company’s executive vice president for technology and innovation.
Al Khowaiter emphasized the importance of leveraging emerging, influential technologies and expressed the company’s ambition to be a pioneer in adopting quantum computing within the energy sector.