D-Wave Launches Free 'Leap' Quantum Computing Service

D-Wave Systems, the contentious but scrappy maker of quantum annealing processors, has launched a cloud-based platform 

where developers can sign up for free and run problems on their quantum processor unit (QPU).

 

There's an in-depth set of demos, documentation, and an open-source Python SDK to look at."Leap is the latest addition to the quantum cloud -- services that virtualize quantum computing for almost anyone with a computer and a broadband connection to use," reports IEEE Spectrum. "Leap allows anyone to sign up, giving them one minute of time on a cloud-connected 2000Q each month. That might not sound like much, but a key advantage of quantum computing is to be able to solve in milliseconds problems like factoring large numbers, optimizing routes, or calculating molecular structures that could take traditional computers days or weeks."