When IBM announced in May that two of its quantum computers helped Cleveland Clinic achieve a record-size simulation of human proteins, a couple of other pieces of hardware also stood out in the accomplishment: two supercomputers.
This pairing of quantum computing and classical computing illustrates that while quantum computers can deliver staggering compute power in certain circumstances, they also have limitations compared to conventional systems, which have faster clock rates, established algorithms, are more capable with large datasets, and are more broadly useful than niche-oriented quantum.
“There’s going to be a classical computer in anything that has to do with quantum,” said IBM vice president of quantum adoption Scott Crowder.
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