Back to the Future: Leveraging Classical Compute to Make the Quantum Leap (presented by Dell)

A Dell Technologies presenter at the 2025 OCP Global Summit provides a comprehensive introduction to quantum computing for data center professionals, arguing that quantum processing units (QPUs) should be treated as accelerators that augment classical infrastructure rather than replace it. The talk covers quantum fundamentals (qubits, superposition, quantum circuits), the six QPU modalities, current barriers to adoption (scalability, environmental requirements, error rates), and Dell's Discover-Identify-Deploy framework for hybrid quantum-classical computing (HQCC). Dell also shares internal experience applying quantum algorithms to supply chain optimization with surprisingly strong results.

Key Takeaways

• QPUs should be positioned as GPU-like accelerators augmenting classical data centers, not standalone replacements — Dell frames the future as heterogeneous compute where QPU is one more resource type.
• Current QPUs have 100–250 qubits; mass deployment requires thousands to millions, but vendor roadmaps show 10x–100x generation-over-generation qubit scaling, with 2030 as the target inflection year.
• Error rates must improve from today's best of four 9s (99.99%) to six or seven 9s (99.9999%+) before widespread adoption; decoherence remains the primary error source.
• Quantum emulation on classical hardware enables error-free QPU simulation for workloads up to ~35 qubits, allowing development and testing without consuming scarce QPU time.
• The three most near-term HQCC use cases are chemical/materials modeling (quantum-native atomic simulation), financial portfolio optimization (even 0.1% improvement at scale is high-value), and electric battery design.
• HQCC infrastructure closely resembles AI GPU infrastructure in memory and compute requirements, enabling double-dipping on existing AI investments.
• Dell internally deployed quantum algorithms against its supply chain optimization problem and found the results "surprisingly valuable"; Qiskit (IBM) is the recommended starting framework.
• NIST post-quantum cryptography standards are the authoritative guidance for migrating away from RSA; the speaker recommends proactive migration now.