um Computing companies like D-Wave and QC ware.
How to run an algorithm on a Quantum Computer
Whereas D-wave is actually selling their machines, most big IT firms are taking a cloud utilisation model, QaaS : Quantum as a service, which is enabling a lot more companies to experiment with the technology.
There is apparently over 50 different programming languages that are being run on Quantum Hardware. Most big vendors have developed their own languages which syntax is pretty much like Python however Microsoft, being Microsoft, developed a language called Q#. A good summary can be found at https://quantumcomputingreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Overview-and-Comparison-of-Gate-Level-Quantum-Software-Platforms-Final-June-21-2018.pdf
The industry is really going to be driven by effective use cases for the technology so free access to emulators and or direct access to quantum computers is available.
As the practical applications of Quantum Computing increase so will investment and eventually adoption.
So, to sum up, Quantum Computing is not quite there yet however it is coming and it will have a massive impact. Bearing in mind there are simulators out there, if you were given a quantum computer tomorrow – what could you do better?
Michel is the ex Head of Algorithmic Execution at Societe Generale and now a member of Lab Quantique (a Paris based Think Tank) and the QuantX Group at Ecole Polytechnique (a group focused on the field of Quantum Technologies).