New Research Could Enhance AI Performance Through Quantum Computing Breakthrough
Right then. Another week, another quantum computing breakthrough that might actually be useful this time.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed a new superconducting diode that could help scale quantum computers and enhance AI through something called neuromorphic computing.
Now before your eyes glaze over – and I wouldn’t blame you – let me explain why this actually matters.
Current computers have a fundamental problem: they generate enormous amounts of heat and waste energy. Your laptop getting warm? Multiply that by a million for a data center running AI models. Superconductors – materials that conduct electricity with zero resistance – could solve this, but only if we can control them properly.
What the Minnesota team did was create a diode using three Josephson junctions – essentially sandwiches of non-superconducting material between superconductors. The clever bit is that their design allows voltage to control the device’s behaviour, which has never been done before with a superconducting diode.
Science Daily explains the neuromorphic computing angle: the device can process multiple signal inputs at once, which typical diodes can’t do. This mimics how neurons work in the brain.
“We want to make computers more powerful, but there are some hard limits we are going to hit soon with our current materials and fabrication methods,” said Vlad Pribiag, the senior author. “We need new ways to develop computers.”
The device has close to the highest energy efficiency ever shown, and unlike some previous superconducting devices, uses materials that are “industry-friendly.” When we look at what AI has actually delivered versus the hype, hardware breakthroughs like this could be what enables the next real leap.
Now, Pribiag was careful to temper expectations. This isn’t showing up in your laptop anytime soon. “Right now, all the quantum computing machines out there are very basic relative to the needs of real-world applications.”
But small steps. Potentially very significant ones.
