Is there hype?
The principles of quantum mechanics that quantum computing relies on have been around for more than a century. The idea of quantum computers, as we discussed in the early chapters of this book, was introduced in the 1980s by Richard Feynman. Since then, every time there was a groundbreaking algorithm like Shor's or Grover's algorithms, it has added to the hype.
On a similar note, where there has been a proof of concept conducted successfully like China's quantum satellite initiative (Micius), optimism goes through the roof. That's just the way human beings are wired to react due to the increased dopamine levels arising from the newness of these inventions. That is also what keeps the ecosystem optimistic and in the hunt for new breakthroughs, despite the odds.
Recall my interview with Dave Snelling, and the picture he drew for me:
Figure 1: A rough drawing by Dave Snelling, explaining the trends in annealing
Very much like the field...
