D-Wave to go public after $1.2 billion merger deal with SPAC

Quantum computer company D-Wave will go public after reaching a deal to merge with the SPAC (special purpose acquisition company) DPCM Capital, in a deal that values the advanced-computing firm at $1.2bn. The private biz will change its name to D-Wave Quantum Inc. and will receive about $340m in funding. The newly formed …

[Kevin McMurtrie]

Retro

I can't help thinking that we've skipped over much easier steps like analog computing chips (analog units linked by analog flash memory). I see it pop up every now and then in the news but it doesn't get cash shoveled into it like quantum computing.

It makes me think that quantum computing gets all it's money for cracking crypto algorithms where at least 2^4096 numerical precision is needed.

[Anonymous Coward]

Probability

Have they used their machine to calculate the probability of a large enough market for these things to do stuff that is actually needed by average companies & not just governments cracking encryption?

[Yet Another Anonymous coward]

Re: Probability

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers"

[Aristotles slow and dimwitted horse]

Re: Probability

And those 5 will never need more than 256k RAM.

[MiguelC]

You invest in a SPAC that merges with a company developing quantum computing

It's like having your money and not having it

[Tromos]

Re: You invest in a SPAC that merges with a company developing quantum computing

With a rather large probability that you don't have it, but someone else does.

[Yet Another Anonymous coward]

Re: You invest in a SPAC that merges with a company developing quantum computing

Only if you don't look in the box

[sreynolds]

I can't decide.....

If I should invest in Quantum or the Blockchain. I await the stream of tech influences to tell me to do both and none at the same time.

[jonathan keith]

Re: I can't decide.....

You just need to wait for the advent of the Quantum Blockchain.

[Anonymous Coward]

Quantum FOMO-dynamics or an ion pump-and-dump.

[Anonymous Coward]

Somehow, I don't think we're going to see real quantum computing for quite some time yet. We're too early in the research, and there is (as per usual in the industry) far too much hype for what actually exists right now.

I compare what D-Wave has now to a 2-D graphics "accelerator" card for an early computer, with what I expect "real" quantum computing to resemble about as much as a modern NVidia or ATI card's processor.

I have much greater faith in fusion power research at this point; many important steps have been taken during my lifetime of reading news about it over the past 30-35 years. Sure their promise back then that we were "about 30 years away" was the same as the quantum hype now, but the time and effort and, most of all, the learning that has been done is incredible. I have a gut feeling we're very close; I hold high hopes for ITER's results.

[NanoMeter]

Need to get me one of those quantum machines. Can never get too powerful computers. Just need to win the lottery first.

[Aristotles slow and dimwitted horse]

SPAC?

SPAC had a totally different meaning when I was growing up. So I'm offended by the use of this term on behalf of less abled acquisition companies, who themselves aren't actually offended.

[Dinanziame]

I'm among those very sceptical about quantum computing, but that's not the important question: are they currently profitable?