Quantum computing shoul be embedded into the daily lives of doctors on the NHS frontline,
writes Ilyas Khan, founder of Quantinuum
, in today’s
Notebook
The scale of the NHS’ healthcare challenge is undeniable. The UK is getting older, healthcare needs are becoming more complex and there is an increasing emphasis on supporting longer, but also healthier and more dignified lives. Above all, society expects that we take care of those who suffer illness and accidents.
The government is openly committed to improve the NHS and take advantage of new technologies.
This commitment is matched by the ambitions of the UK’s world leading National Quantum Strategy – which as the first UK quantum company we have supported for a decade – and the recent AI Opportunities Action Plan. But to truly deliver change, the government’s ideas will leave policy papers and move into the hands of frontline workers.
Technology provides an opportunity to make real progress on improving outcomes for patients. Our work at Quantinuum is dedicated to turning groundbreaking scientific research into practical results, combining quantum computers and AI with software for researchers in fields like pharmaceuticals and computational biology.
Doctors, nurses and midwives on the NHS frontline are uniquely placed to unlock the value of AI and quantum through their daily interactions with patients, identifying opportunities to improve treatments and ultimately save lives.
To get these technologies into their hands, last week we partnered with NHS clinicians on an AI and quantum hackathon to support the innovators within our health service make the breakthroughs that could really matter to patients. The winner worked on a personalised cancer treatment dashboard using machine learning and quantum optimisation to design tailored treatments for better patient outcomes.
Large-scale, ambitious partnerships are needed between business and government that match the size of the challenges facing not only the NHS but all public services, driving transformative change across society.
Supporting piece
We need to democratise quantum computing
I was fortunate enough to serve as the inaugural chairman of the Stephen Hawking Foundation. One idea Stephen held dear was that science should be accessible to all. “Bringing science to the people,” he wrote, “brings people into science”.
This year, the UN International Year of Quantum commemorates a centenary of quantum mechanics and the global technology movement that has grown up around it. Carlo Rovelli, one of quantum theory’s most eloquent interpreters, notes it continues to challenge our deepest assumptions about the nature of reality. Quantum theory implies that objects, right down to the tiniest particles, are defined not in themselves, but by their relationships to other objects.
Luckily, thanks to open and cooperative research efforts, we gained this profound understanding and used it to develop quantum computers capable of tackling once unsolvable challenges like assisting artificial intelligence in finding new drugs.
Quantum computing holds the promise to enhance humanity’s future, yet this will happen solely if it stays available to everyone instead of being monopolized by a select group. Given how significant these implications are, fostering open access, worldwide cooperation, fair policies, and integrating quantum computing with artificial intelligence could help us ensure that quantum technology becomes a catalyst for collective advancement.
In what ways can quantum technology benefit the financial sector?
Over more than ten years since I established a quantum computing firm, I’ve played an active role in numerous scientific or technological “firsts.” However, few of these milestones addressed immediate solutions for intricate practical issues. This is precisely why our recent announcement with
JP Morgan Chase
The previous month was filled with excitement.
With our top-of-the-line H2 quantum computer, we produced verifiable quantum random numbers using a method that provides immediate benefits for sectors such as cryptography and finance—demonstrating how quantum technology can reshape current and future commercial practices.
A recommendation
I suggest reading “Helgoland” by Carlo Rovelli for those curious about diving into quantum computing—it offers an easily digestible examination of the theories underpinning these groundbreaking devices.
Ilyas Khan is the founder and Chief Product Officer at Quantinuum.