Building and using superconducting quantum circuits that learn

A status report

Learning is the key to AGI

Regardless of your definition of intelligence

Is quantum mechanics required for human+ level learning ability?

If it is, that would be spectacularly interesting and surprising

Let’s assume it’s not

Image from http://www.quantumconsciousness.org/personal.html

One possibility: Evolution always leads to classical brains

Many compelling arguments in favor of this

But… quantum algorithms do exist for machine learning

… machines running these algorithms might be superior to any possible evolved brain…

Pattern matching

Inference

Deduction

Scheduling

Optimization

…yes, even termite brains.

Moral of the story

If brains use quantum mechanics, we should try to discover how & why

If brains don’t use quantum mechanics, we can build machines that are spectacularly better than any possible evolved brain at a wide range of tasks

(Classical) deep neural netsSee Itamar Arel’s presentation 5:00pm today!

Unsupervised learning with rich sensory input

Problem: learning is computationally hard

“Analog” deep neural nets… with quantum mechanical components

Also called adiabatic quantum optimization

Use uniquely quantum effects to speed learning

Layer of input neurons/qubits

Two layers of hidden neurons/qubits

Layer of output neurons/qubits

Weighted connections

The Rainier processor interconnect… each node is a real physical qubit

How a processor is born… superconducting electronics is fun! and expensive!

1 mm

These “quantum neural nets” have learned some things already

Used to build best car detector ever built (work done with Google)

Messages to take away

(Unsupervised) learning is the key to AGI

Deep neural nets might be the way to go

Quantum versions (neurons qubits) are being built; early versions exist already!