American chipmaker Intel has some significant news to announce to the IT community. Much earlier than its rivals, it can already sell clients a 12-qubit quantum processor. According to Ars Technica, the quantum processor is being shipped to a select American research facilities.
Since a few months ago, corporations have either picked Nvidia for their artificial intelligence (AI) requirements or opted to use their own chip designs for new goods, putting pressure on Intel.
Additionally, pressure has increased as a result of rivals like IBM pushing the boundaries of quantum computing. This week’s earlier Interesting Engineering article described how IBM’s quantum computer outperformed a supercomputer at difficult maths. In the middle of all of this, Intel has been fighting to establish its dominance; the introduction of its quantum processor may provide the business the lift it needs.
Intel’s quantum processor
Similar to the names of its previous CPUs, Intel’s quantum product is called Tunnel Falls. Intel has been attempting to create silicon-based qubits, unlike its rivals. It believes that by doing this, it can make the most seamless transition from silicon chip to quantum chip in the future.
Therefore, Intel’s qubits are tiny quantum dots that can store information by encasing individual electrons. This makes Intel’s task much more difficult because it must concentrate on developing the hardware and software for its quantum processor.
Intel intends to attract more minds and hands to the task of making its quantum processors functional for everyone by sending its quantum processors to research facilities.
The processor currently requires a dilution refrigeration system to lower temperatures to absolute zero before it can start working. The collaboration between Intel and research facilities aims to find solutions for these practical issues with quantum computers. The business employs its fabrication know-how to create better quantum devices with more qubits that are comparable to those of its rivals.
Dropping the ‘i’ to gain visibility
The firm, which has its headquarters in Santa Clara, California, is also focusing on branding in order to stand out from the sea of chipmakers that have sprung up over the years. Intel has made the decision to stop using the ‘i’ in the name of its processors and instead refer to them as Core3/5/7/9 going forward.
According to corporate officials, this is being done to make it more difficult for consumers to abbreviate the processor name. In order to distinguish its most recent flagship chips, which will also bear the Ultra label, the corporation will soon force customers to refer to them as Core 3 or Core 5 CPUs.
For individuals who are interested in understanding the generation of the CPU they are buying in, Intel has undoubtedly made things a little bit more difficult. Users will have to look closely to determine if they purchase gadgets with the most recent chips or any unused stock from the previous year.
There are only the Intel, Core, and Core Ultra CPU ranges for ardent users until the quantum series of processors is made accessible. Tiering within these price bands will continue moving forward, according to Intel.
