Daimler partners with Google on quantum computing

The automaker will explore a range of potential applications including battery cell design, autonomous vehicle fleet management, logistics planning and artificial intelligence.

Daimler is the latest automaker to partner with Google to explore potential applications for quantum computing in the automotive industry.

Google recently revealed its latest quantum processor, a 72-qubit chip known as Bristlecone. The company is "cautiously optimistic" the system will be among the first to demonstrate quantum supremacy, defined as the ability to outperform a classical supercomputer on a certain task.

"We believe the experimental demonstration of a quantum processor outperforming a supercomputer would be a watershed moment for our field, and remains one of our key objectives," Google wrote in a blog post earlier this month.

Daimler intends to use Bristlecone to run experiments on materials engineering, such as chemistry models for future battery cells. Other areas of interest include autonomous vehicle fleet management, logistics planning, production optimization and deep learning for artificial intelligence applications.

"This technology is as yet still in the early stages of research and development - but it harbours vast potential," says Daimler R&D head Ola Källenius. "Our aim is to acquire experience with this new technology at an early stage."