Volkswagen and Google to collaborate on quantum computing

The Volkswagen Group (VW) has announced that its IT unit will be partnering up with Google in a collaboration that will see the two working together on quantum computing.

Specialists from VW’s Information Technology Centres, Located in San Francisco and Munich, will develop algorithms in collaboration with Google’s experts using the technology firm’s quantum computers.

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“Quantum computing technology opens up new dimensions and represents the fast-track for future-oriented topics,” said Martin Hofmann, Chief Information Officer of the VW Group. “We at Volkswagen want to be among the first to use quantum computing for corporate processes as soon as this technology is commercially available. Thanks to our cooperation with Google, we have taken a major step towards this goal.”

VW will use the computers in three research projects, part of the automaker’s expansion into the technological market outside the manufacture of vehicles.

The three research areas include developing traffic optimisation, creating and improving high performance batteries for electric vehicles, and expanding its artificial intelligence capabilities with new machine learning processes.

“Volkswagen has enormous expertise in solving important, real-world engineering problems, and it is an honour for us to collaborate on how quantum computing may be able to make a difference in the automotive industry,” said Hartmut Neven, Director of the Google Quantum Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.