Quantum Computing in the Cloud and Industrial Quantum Technology

Quantum computing promises transformative computational advances with wide ranging utility. While achieving this goal requires significant technological and scientific advancement, many companies have made sizable investments into this technology. Amazon has emerged as a front-runner in this space, with several approaches to leveraging quantum computing for its customers. In this talk, we will begin with an overview of the quantum technology efforts underway at Amazon Web Services (AWS), and the AWS approach to supporting customers (be they enterprise companies, startups, academic institutions, or individuals). We will then explore two recent quantum finance applications to understand how quantum computing can solve real-world problems (like options pricing and portfolio optimization), and what technological advancements are required to achieve the lofty goal of "quantum advantage".