Quantum Operations for Natural Language Processing

Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a branch of Artificial Intelligence that aims to help computers understand human languages. Applications of NLP are commonly found in everyday life, e.g. in search engines such as Google and chatbots such as Alexa and Siri. Despite the success of these applications, NLP still faces limitations. These include the large amount of input data, and hence the computational time associated with certain tasks. Furthermore, current models of natural language used in NLP are not perfect: computers' output is usually very distinct from human responses, as one often witnesses in chatbot responses and Google's translations of sentences.

Somewhat related to Quantum Machine Learning, Quantum Natural Language Processing (QNLP) is a recent field of research that aims at exploiting the advantages of quantum computers for NLP applications. Indeed, quantum computers are known to be able to outperform the best-known classical algorithms solving certain problems, including optimization problems. In addition, the motivation for QNLP goes further than the mere computational considerations. Indeed, some quantum-like models of cognition and natural language have surfaced, which represent a considerable argument for quantum artificial intelligence.

In this project, we will focus on aspects of natural language which have a direct analogue with concepts of quantum theory, e.g. ambiguity and contextuality. These could then be used to come up with practical use of quantum computers for NLP. The project will be mainly theoretical; however, if theoretical results allow it, we will also aim at implementing QNLP algorithms on small- scale quantum computers.

The first and most important impact of our Centre will be through the cross-disciplinary technical training it provides for its students. Through this training, they will have not only skills to control and exploit quantum physics in new ways, but also the background in device engineering and information science to bring these ideas to implementation and to seek out new applications. Our commercial and governmental partners tell us how important these skills are in the growing number of people they are hiring in the field of quantum technologies. In the longer term we expect our graduates to be prominent in the development of new technologies and their application to communication, information processing, and measurement science in leading university and government laboratories as well as in commercial research and development. In the shorter term we expect them to be carrying out doctoral research of the highest international quality.

Second, impact will also flow from the students' approach to enterprise and technology transfer. From the outset they will be encouraged to think about the value of intellectual property, the opportunity it provides, and the fundraising needed to support research and development. As students with this mindset come to play a prominent part in university and commercial laboratories, their common background will help to break down the traditional barriers between these sectors and deliver the promise of quantum technologies for the benefit of the UK and world economies. Concrete actions to accelerate this impact will include entrepreneurship training and an annual CDT industry day.

Third, through the participation it nucleates in the training programme and in students' research, the Centre will bring together a community of partners from industry and government laboratories. In the short term this will facilitate new collaborations and networks involving the partners and the students; in the long term it will help to ensure that the supply of highly skilled people from the CDT reaches the parts of industry that need them most.

Finally, the CDT will have a strong impact on the quantum technologies training landscape in the UK. The Centre will organise training events and workshops open to all doctoral researchers to attend. We will also collaborate with CDTs in the quantum technologies and related research areas to coordinate our efforts and maximise our joint impact. Working in consort, these CDTs will form a vibrant national training network benefitting the entire UK doctoral research community.