Interdisciplinary research area at the intersection of quantum physics and machine learning
This article is about using quantum algorithms to solve machine learning tasks. For applications of classical machine learning to quantum systems, see Machine learning in physics.
This article may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards, as it is excessively detailed, relies heavily on primary sources, and may not provide sufficient weight to criticisms.You can help. The talk page may contain suggestions.(July 2023)
The most common use of the term refers to quantum algorithms for machine learning tasks which analyze classical data, sometimes called quantum-enhanced machine learning.[5][6][7] Quantum machine learning algorithms use qubits and quantum operations to try to improve the space and time complexity of classical machine learning algortihms.[8] This includes hybrid methods that involve both classical and quantum processing, where computationally difficult subroutines are outsourced to a quantum device.[9][10][11] These routines can be more complex in nature and executed faster on a quantum computer.[3] Furthermore, quantum algorithms can be used to analyze quantum states instead of classical data.[12][13]
The term "quantum machine learning" is sometimes use to refer classical machine learning methods applied to data generated from quantum experiments (i.e. machine learning of quantum systems), such as learning the phase transitions of a quantum system[14][15] or creating new quantum experiments.[16][17][18]
Quantum machine learning also extends to a branch of research that explores methodological and structural similarities between certain physical systems and learning systems, in particular neural networks. For example, some mathematical and numerical techniques from quantum physics are applicable to classical deep learning and vice versa.[19][20][21]
Furthermore, researchers investigate more abstract notions of learning theory with respect to quantum information, sometimes referred to as "quantum learning theory".[22][23]
Four different approaches to combine the disciplines of quantum computing and machine learning.[24][25] The first letter refers to whether the system under study is classical or quantum, while the second letter defines whether a classical or quantum information processing device is used.