Quantum computing and machine learning are two of the most disruptive forces in modern computer science. One is grounded in the mind-bending weirdness of quantum mechanics; the other powers the systems that recognize your face, recommend your next Netflix binge, or drive your car (almost). Now imagine combining them. Welcome to Quantum Machine Learning (QML), where the goal isn't just faster computation—it's redefining what's computationally possible. Quantum Machine Learning (QML) 1. The Quantum Bit: Not Just a Fancy Bit At the heart of quantum computing is the qubit. Unlike your everyday bit that flips between 0 and 1, a qubit can live in both states simultaneously thanks to a phenomenon called superposition. qubit simultaneously superposition In math terms: |ψ⟩ = α|0⟩ + β|1⟩ |ψ⟩ = α|0⟩ + β|1⟩ Where α and β are complex numbers and |α|² + |β|² = 1. This allows a quantum computer to explore many possibilities at once. α β |α|² + |β|² = 1 Python example: Superposition with Hadamard gate from qiskit import QuantumCircuit
qc = QuantumCircuit(1)
qc.h(0)  # Create superposition
qc.draw('mpl') from qiskit import QuantumCircuit
qc = QuantumCircuit(1)
qc.h(0)  # Create superposition
qc.draw('mpl') 2. Quantum Gates: Logic for the Multiverse Quantum gates manipulate qubit states, like logic gates in classical computing—but built for the quantum realm. H (Hadamard): Creates superposition
X: Quantum NOT
CNOT: Creates entanglement, a quantum link H (Hadamard): Creates superposition H X: Quantum NOT X CNOT: Creates entanglement, a quantum link CNOT entanglement qc = QuantumCircuit(2)
qc.h(0)
qc.cx(0, 1)
qc.draw('mpl') qc = QuantumCircuit(2)
qc.h(0)
qc.cx(0, 1)
qc.draw('mpl') 3. Measurement: Where Possibility Collapses Quantum measurement collapses a qubit into a definite state (0 or 1) with certain probabilities determined by |α|² and |β|². |α|² |β|² from qiskit import Aer, execute
qc.measure_all()
result = execute(qc, Aer.get_backend('qasm_simulator'), shots=1024).result()
print(result.get_counts()) from qiskit import Aer, execute
qc.measure_all()
result = execute(qc, Aer.get_backend('qasm_simulator'), shots=1024).result()
print(result.get_counts()) 4. Making Machine Learning Quantum Quantum Machine Learning isn’t just a speed-up hack. It’s a way to redefine how we process and represent data. redefine how we process and represent data 4.1 Quantum Feature Maps To run ML on quantum hardware, you first need to encode classical data into quantum states. encode from qiskit.circuit.library import ZZFeatureMap
feature_map = ZZFeatureMap(feature_dimension=2, reps=1)
feature_map.draw('mpl')  # <- Feature map diagram here from qiskit.circuit.library import ZZFeatureMap
feature_map = ZZFeatureMap(feature_dimension=2, reps=1)
feature_map.draw('mpl')  # <- Feature map diagram here 4.2 Parameterized Quantum Circuits (PQC) Think of these as neural networks made out of quantum gates. from qiskit.circuit import Parameter
theta = Parameter('θ')
qc = QuantumCircuit(1)
qc.ry(theta, 0)
qc.draw('mpl') from qiskit.circuit import Parameter
theta = Parameter('θ')
qc = QuantumCircuit(1)
qc.ry(theta, 0)
qc.draw('mpl') We’ll later optimize θ to minimize a loss function—just like training weights in a neural network. θ 5. Quantum Support Vector Machines (QSVM) QSVM extends classic SVM by replacing dot products with quantum kernel functions. quantum kernel functions from qiskit_machine_learning.kernels import QuantumKernel
quantum_kernel = QuantumKernel(feature_map=feature_map, quantum_instance=Aer.get_backend('statevector_simulator'))
print(quantum_kernel) from qiskit_machine_learning.kernels import QuantumKernel
quantum_kernel = QuantumKernel(feature_map=feature_map, quantum_instance=Aer.get_backend('statevector_simulator'))
print(quantum_kernel) Training Example from qiskit_machine_learning.algorithms import QSVM

training_data = {'A': [[0, 0], [1, 1]], 'B': [[1, 0], [0, 1]]}
qsvm = QSVM(quantum_kernel, training_data)
qsvm.fit(training_data, [0, 1]) from qiskit_machine_learning.algorithms import QSVM

training_data = {'A': [[0, 0], [1, 1]], 'B': [[1, 0], [0, 1]]}
qsvm = QSVM(quantum_kernel, training_data)
qsvm.fit(training_data, [0, 1]) 6. Quantum Neural Networks (QNN) QNNs use parameterized quantum gates as trainable layers. Each gate angle is like a neural weight. from qiskit.circuit import Parameter
theta1, theta2 = Parameter('θ1'), Parameter('θ2')
qc = QuantumCircuit(2)
qc.ry(theta1, 0)
qc.ry(theta2, 1)
qc.cx(0, 1)  # entangle the qubits
qc.draw('mpl') from qiskit.circuit import Parameter
theta1, theta2 = Parameter('θ1'), Parameter('θ2')
qc = QuantumCircuit(2)
qc.ry(theta1, 0)
qc.ry(theta2, 1)
qc.cx(0, 1)  # entangle the qubits
qc.draw('mpl') Training a QNN with PyTorch from qiskit_machine_learning.connectors import TorchConnector
import torch
from torch import nn, optim

# Connect quantum circuit to PyTorch
connector = TorchConnector(qc)
model = nn.Sequential(connector, nn.Softmax(dim=1))

criterion = nn.CrossEntropyLoss()
optimizer = optim.Adam(model.parameters(), lr=0.01)

for epoch in range(100):
    output = model(torch.tensor([[0.0, 1.0]]))
    loss = criterion(output, torch.tensor([1]))
    loss.backward()
    optimizer.step() from qiskit_machine_learning.connectors import TorchConnector
import torch
from torch import nn, optim

# Connect quantum circuit to PyTorch
connector = TorchConnector(qc)
model = nn.Sequential(connector, nn.Softmax(dim=1))

criterion = nn.CrossEntropyLoss()
optimizer = optim.Adam(model.parameters(), lr=0.01)

for epoch in range(100):
    output = model(torch.tensor([[0.0, 1.0]]))
    loss = criterion(output, torch.tensor([1]))
    loss.backward()
    optimizer.step() Hybrid quantum-classical training is the standard pattern in today’s QML. 7. Grover’s Algorithm for Model Optimization Grover’s search finds an item in √N time—making it perfect for hyperparameter search in quantum ML. √N hyperparameter search from qiskit import QuantumCircuit, Aer, execute

grover_circuit = QuantumCircuit(3)
grover_circuit.h([0, 1, 2])
grover_circuit.cz(0, 2)
grover_circuit.draw('mpl')

result = execute(grover_circuit, Aer.get_backend('qasm_simulator'), shots=1024).result()
print(result.get_counts()) from qiskit import QuantumCircuit, Aer, execute

grover_circuit = QuantumCircuit(3)
grover_circuit.h([0, 1, 2])
grover_circuit.cz(0, 2)
grover_circuit.draw('mpl')

result = execute(grover_circuit, Aer.get_backend('qasm_simulator'), shots=1024).result()
print(result.get_counts()) 8. Challenges and the Road Ahead Let’s be honest: QML is still in its infancy. Quantum computers are noisy and limited
Real-world quantum advantage is rare—for now
Developers need to learn both quantum physics and ML Quantum computers are noisy and limited Real-world quantum advantage is rare—for now Developers need to learn both quantum physics and ML and But things are evolving fast. As hardware matures and toolkits like Qiskit and PennyLane improve, expect more practical breakthroughs. 9. Final Thoughts Quantum Machine Learning isn’t just about faster AI—it’s about rethinking what AI can be. From kernel tricks to quantum-enhanced neural networks, QML is opening doors we didn’t know existed. If you're a curious dev with a taste for the frontier, now’s the time to dive in.

The code in this story is for educational purposes. The readers are solely responsible for whatever they build with it.

Quant

Cracking the Code of Generalization: Cross-Modal Alignment Meets Cross-Domain Learning

I Used to Get Lost in GitHub Repos; Then I Found a Smarter Way In

Read My Stories

Too Long; Didn't Read

Boost your HackerNoon story @ $159.99! 🚀

Quantum Machine Learning: When Schrödinger Meets the Data Scientist

About Author

Comments

TOPICS

THIS ARTICLE WAS FEATURED IN

Related Stories

A Developer's Guide to Merging AI with the Spring Ecosystem

The Noonification: How Often Do NFTs Pass The Howey Test? (1/13/2023)

Darwin's Hybrid Intelligence to Align AI & Human Goals for Startups & VCs

The Noonification: White Man (11/26/2022)

The Noonification: The Metaverse is a Sh*tshow (11/2/2022)

100 Days of AI Day 1: From Newsletter to Podcast, Leveraging AI for Audio Transformation

A Developer's Guide to Merging AI with the Spring Ecosystem

The Noonification: How Often Do NFTs Pass The Howey Test? (1/13/2023)

Darwin's Hybrid Intelligence to Align AI & Human Goals for Startups & VCs

The Noonification: White Man (11/26/2022)

The Noonification: The Metaverse is a Sh*tshow (11/2/2022)

100 Days of AI Day 1: From Newsletter to Podcast, Leveraging AI for Audio Transformation

Light-Mode

Classic

Newspaper

Dark-Mode

Neon Noir

Minty

HN StartUps