Researchers at the AQC25 conference emphasized that conventional computers are crucial for making quantum systems practical. Held in Boston on 14 November, the event highlighted how classical tech controls qubits, decodes results, and aids manufacturing. Experts from Nvidia, IBM, and startups discussed integration as key to future advancements.
The AQC25 conference, organized by Quantum Machines in Boston, Massachusetts, on 14 November, brought together over 150 experts, including quantum computing professors and AI startup CEOs. Discussions focused on the indispensable role of classical computing in quantum technology, from qubit control to error management.
Quantum computers rely on fragile qubits, such as cold atoms or superconducting circuits, whose power scales with qubit count. However, these require precise calibration to avoid errors, a task handled by classical systems. Shane Caldwell, a scientist at Nvidia, stated that fault-tolerant quantum computers for real problems will need petascale classical infrastructure, akin to today's supercomputers. Nvidia recently introduced a system linking quantum processors (QPUs) to GPUs used in machine learning and scientific computing.
Even efficient quantum outputs, in the form of qubit quantum properties, must be decoded classically for usability. Pooya Ronagh from 1QBit noted that the speed of fault-tolerant quantum machines depends on classical components like controllers and decoders, potentially determining if computations take hours or days.
Presentations showcased classical enhancements: Benjamin Lienhard from Germany's Walther-Meissner-Institute discussed machine learning for efficient readout of superconducting qubits, while Mark Saffman from the University of Wisconsin-Madison reported on neural networks improving atomic qubit readout. IBM's Blake Johnson detailed a classical decoder for their planned 2029 quantum supercomputer, addressing error-correction challenges.
Yonathan Cohen at Quantum Machines observed, “As time goes by, we’re seeing that the more classical [computing] we bring closer to the QPUs, the more we can squeeze the integrated performance of the system to new limits.” Izhar Medalsy from Quantum Elements highlighted AI digital twins for hardware design, and the Quantum Scaling Alliance—co-led by 2025 Nobel Laureate John Martinis—links qubit makers with firms like Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Synopsys.
The consensus underscored classical computing's foundational role in quantum progress.