Vancouver, Canada and Tokyo, Japan, May 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fujitsu Limited and 1QB Information Technologies Inc. (1QBit) announced that starting today they will collaborate on applying quantum-inspired technology to the field of artificial intelligence (AI), focusing on the areas of combinatorial optimization and machine learning. The companies will work together in both the Japanese and global markets to develop applications which address industry problems using AI developed for use with quantum computers.
This collaboration will enable software developed by 1QBit for quantum computers to run on a “digital annealer” jointly developed by Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. and the University of Toronto. A digital annealer is a computing architecture that can rapidly solve combinatorial optimization problems using existing semiconductor technology.
“We have reviewed many different hardware architectures, and we are very excited about applying our software to the technology developed by Fujitsu,” said Andrew Fursman, CEO of 1QBit. “Together, 1QBit’s software applications and Fujitsu’s digital annealing technology have the capabilities necessary to solve difficult optimization problems and advance the field of machine learning.”
Over the last four years, 1QBit has developed new methods for machine learning, sampling, and optimization based on reformulating problems to meet the unique requirements of interfacing with quantum computers. The company’s research and software development teams have focused on solving sampling, optimization, and machine learning problems to improve applications in industries including finance, energy, advanced materials, and the life sciences. The combination of Fujitsu’s cutting-edge computer architecture and hardware technology, and 1QBit’s software technology, will enable advances in machine learning to solve complicated, large-scale optimization problems.
Fujitsu has systematized the technology and its experience with AI under the name of Zinrai, which has developed over the course of more than thirty years. The platform will support customers in using AI and will be available as the Fujitsu Cloud Service K5 Zinrai Platform Service. Fujitsu will offer the results of this collaboration as an option in the Fujitsu Cloud Service K5 Zinrai Platform Service Zinrai Deep Learning, a Zinrai cloud service, during 2017.
In the future, the two companies will provide a variety of services that combine 1QBit’s software and expertise in building applications which benefit from the capabilities of quantum computers, with Fujitsu’s hardware technology, its customer base – the largest in Japan – and its versatile ICT capabilities, including AI. The partnership aims to contribute to the creation of new businesses and the transformation of existing businesses by introducing new solutions to the computational challenges facing customers in a variety of fields, including finance, the life sciences, energy, retail, and distribution.
About 1QBit
1QBit is dedicated to building quantum and quantum-inspired software to solve the world’s most demanding computational challenges. The company’s hardware-agnostic platforms and services enable the development of applications which scale alongside advances in both classical and quantum computers. 1QBit partners with Fortune 500 clients and leading hardware providers to redefine intractable industry problems in the areas of optimization, simulation, and machine learning. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, 1QBit’s interdisciplinary team of 50 comprises mathematicians, physicists, chemists, software developers, and quantum computing experts who develop novel solutions to problems, from research through to commercial application development. For more information, please visit http://1qbit.com.
About Fujitsu
Fujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 155,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.5 trillion yen (US$40 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. For more information, please see http://www.fujitsu.com.
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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/074ef879-bc21-43aa-9e98-18fad366ab69
Attachments:
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5e20ba60-e03c-4481-b5da-82006e9d5aac
CONTACT: Amanda Downs 1QBit +1.778.987.8191 amanda.downs@1qbit.com
Source: Software