Abstract: A computing system that includes a quantum computer, wherein the computing system is configured to use variational inference methods based on input data derived from an apparatus to be controlled, and to output data for controlling the operation of the apparatus. Methods for using the computing system for controlling operation of the apparatus. The computing system uses variational inference methods configured to drawing conclusion about unobserved variable given observations of related variables, to control the apparatus. The computing system may use Bayesian networks, quantum Born machines, adversarial objectives, or kernelized Stein discrepancy, to perform variational inference.