--- title: "Scientists Are Building a Quantum Computer That “Acts Like a Brain”" description: "A new research project aims to harness the power of the quantum computer to build a new type of neural network that \"acts like a brain.\"" date: "2019-01-12" modified: "2019-01-12" authors: - name: "Jon Christian" job_title: "Executive Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jonc" url: "https://futurism.com/scientists-building-quantum-computer-acts-like-brain" categories: - "Artificial Intelligence" tags: - "artificial intelligence" - "michael hartmann" - "neural networks" - "quantum computers" --- # Scientists Are Building a Quantum Computer That “Acts Like a Brain” ![A new research project aims to harness the power of the quantum computer to build a new type of neural network that "acts like a brain."]() *\Image: meo/Jon Christian\* ## Quantum Computer A [new research project]() aims to harness the power of quantum computers to build a new type of neural network — work the researchers say could usher in the next generation of artificial intelligence. "My colleagues and I instead hope to build the first dedicated neural network computer, using the latest 'quantum' technology rather than AI software," wrote Michael Hartmann, a professor at Heriot-Watt University who's leading the research, in a [new essay]() for *The Conversation*. "By combining these two branches of computing, we hope to produce a breakthrough which leads to AI that operates at unprecedented speed, automatically making very complex decisions in a very short time." ## Brain Game A neural network is a type of machine learning algorithm loosely modeled on a biological brain, which learns from examples in order to deal with new inputs. Quantum computers take advantage of subatomic particles that can [exist in more than one state at a time]() to circumvent the limitations of old-fashioned binary computers. By combining the two, Hartmann believes, his team will be able to jump-start a new era in AI research that could manage extraordinarily complex problems like directing traffic flow for an entire city in real-time. ## "Most Important Technology" To date, quantum computers have [struggled to solve problems]() that are a piece of cake for classical computers. But if they start to pull ahead, Hartmann and his team want to be prepared to leverage them for the next epoch of AI systems. "To put the technology to its full use will involve creating larger devices, a process that may take ten years or more as many technical details need to be very precisely controlled to avoid computational errors," Hartmann wrote. "But once we have shown that quantum neural networks can be more powerful than classical AI software in a real world application, it would very quickly become some of the most important technology out there." **READ MORE:** [Quantum computer: we’re planning to create one that acts like a brain]() \[*The Conversation*\] ***More on quantum computers:*** [IBM Just Unveiled Its First Commercial Quantum Computer]() ## Author I'm responsible for editing, assigning, and scouting at Futurism, as well as occasionally writing for the site. That work involves keeping an eye on a wide range of narratives and issues, but over the past few years I've become increasingly interested in how AI is shaping the future of media, the web, and information itself. My day-to-day often involves collaborating on reporting and commentary projects bylined by my colleagues, but I try to find time to do my own reporting as well; stories I've broken for Futurism have been cited by publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New Yorker, Wired, Ars Technica, New York Magazine, the Columbia Journalism Review, Bloomberg, and more. I grew up in Southern Vermont and attended Vanderbilt University. Prior to Futurism, I contributed to outlets including the Boston Globe, Vice, Wired, Slate, the Atlantic, the Outline, Ars Technica and more, and did stints in farming and food service. I currently live in Brooklyn, New York, and in my free time I enjoy pinball, word games, cycling, running, and music production. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()