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I'm Scott Aaronson, quantum computing/computational complexity researcher. AMA

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Re: I'm Scott Aaronson, quantum computing/computational complexity researcher. AMA

#91

Post by svat »

enriquto wrote: post #75
Recursing wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He explicitly says «not n^1000 time or anything silly like that» in the sentence you quote, n^googolplex would be way more silly

my point exactly. The class P contains this silly stuff.

He's already covered that; not sure what's left to explain: he's said that if P=NP and if we get there with a practical running time algorithm (e.g. one that solves 3SAT in O(n^4) or something, and with reasonable constants too), then such-and-such consequences. So what are you asking?

Re: I'm Scott Aaronson, quantum computing/computational complexity researcher. AMA

#93

Post by Koshkin »

ScottAaronson wrote: post #50
fiatjaf wrote: post #44

How does quantum computing fit in the quantum worldview of Wolfgang Smith?

Sorry, I don't know who that is.

I got curious and found out that it's this guy who "raises the questions of whether the scientific method is in fact dependent on the scientistic philosophy and, if it is not, whether linking it to other philosophical frameworks would provide better solutions to the way [quantum] physical phenomena are interpreted."

Re: I'm Scott Aaronson, quantum computing/computational complexity researcher. AMA

#95

Post by ScottAaronson »

aswanson wrote: post #63

Any recommended books on complexity theory?

A classic from 1994 is "Computational Complexity" by Papadimitriou.

Two good sources for newer material (from the past quarter-century) are "Complexity Theory: A Modern Approach" by Arora and Barak, and "The Nature of Computation" by Mertens and Moore.

A personal, idiosyncratic favorite is "Gems of Theoretical Computer Science" by Uwe Schoning.

Re: I'm Scott Aaronson, quantum computing/computational complexity researcher. AMA

#96

Post by selimthegrim »

Hi Scott -

What was the best part/most favorite thing about your sabbatical?

Can you explain why Forrelation is a guiding light for quantum deep learning these days?

As a bonus - it would be nice to see a walkthrough - commentary of the recent oracle separation proof of Tal and Raz and how they used Fourier transforms specifically.

Re: I'm Scott Aaronson, quantum computing/computational complexity researcher. AMA

#97

Post by NoKnowledge »

Hi Scott,

Do you think we will see a Quantum Winter (or even several), similar to how we've had several AI Winters?

We see tremendous amounts of funding in academia (and also industry) to build ambitious projects that still have significant issues to overcome (both theoretical and engineering) before being any close to being implemented. At the same time there (still) seems to be much misunderstanding, such as Vivek Wadhwa's recent post[0] or various reports about an unhackable internet based on quantum information. I am afraid that this may lead to people having unrealistic expectations on what can be built and how fast it can be built, with the consequence that we will see less and less funding and investments in the nearby future.

[0]: https://www.scottaaronson.com/blog/?p=3645

Re: I'm Scott Aaronson, quantum computing/computational complexity researcher. AMA

#98

Post by matrixmatty »

Hi Scott,

Is there any chance advances in quantum computing will affect crypto currencies. I.e. it might be possible to shortcut mining or mess with the quorum of the distributed ledger?

I'm curious as crypto currency is so hyped, it would dismay me that advances in quantum computing might disrupt the current landscape, or even better improve it in some way. Entanglement is already deployed and in use for data transit, in curious how annealing or other physics might be a game changer

Re: I'm Scott Aaronson, quantum computing/computational complexity researcher. AMA

#99

Post by martin1975 »

ScottAaronson wrote: post #88
SRasch wrote: post #4

You were said to be a skeptic of quantum computing company d wave. Then you started believing and then went back to skepticism. What is your current status, do you think it works? What would you like to see from them? Also, what is your take on Max Tegmark's quantum suicide experiment. Would it work? If yes would that imply that each of us should expect to live a really long time subjectively?

My position on the technical fundamentals never changed much: namely, D-Wave is building devices that could be interesting from various engineering perspectives, but that as far as most of us can tell, are not getting speedups over existing computers that are clearly attributable to quantum computation (as opposed to building special-purpose hardware that's, essentially, very fast at simulating itself). If you want q…

Am I hearing this right, you think the whole multiverse concept is... meta-physics at best?

Re: I'm Scott Aaronson, quantum computing/computational complexity researcher. AMA

#100

Post by Koshkin »

Y_Y wrote: post #66
ScottAaronson wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, I hadn't heard of it before your comment! Please no one tell the physicist David Mermin about this, or he'll picket the group with his long-running campaign to change the spelling of qubit to "Qbit." :-)

Is it pronounced kew-bit or kuh-bit or kwu-bit?

Depends on how you pronounce 'Q', I guess...
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