Quantum computing leader Quantinuum just recently achieved a high-water mark in its quality. The $10 billion valuation rocked the nascent tech industry creating an explosion of entrepreneurial activity. This milestone is a significant step towards realizing the growing global interest and investment in quantum technologies. These innovations hold tremendous potential to transform industries like healthcare and cybersecurity. As innovations like this one roll out, the world of computing will be fundamentally different in the near future.
In December, Google released its new quantum chip, called Willow. Thanks to all that innovation, this fifth-generation chip can produce answers to complex questions in five minutes. In comparison, it would take the world’s fastest supercomputers an incredible 10 septillion years to complete the same work. These kinds of advances in processing power, combined with the unique characteristics of quantum, make quantum computing a potential game-changer in countless fields.
According to industry experts such as Brian Hopkins from Forrester, quantum computing is not expected to be mainstreamed before 2030 or so. This timeline dovetails with a surge of optimism in the industry about the potential applications for this technology. Prof Sir Peter Knight, one of the UK’s top quantum experts, supports this view, emphasizing the imminent shift towards quantum technologies.
The threats of quantum computing are not just theoretical. In 2019, scientists at Nottingham University successfully employed quantum technology in a prototype device designed for non-intrusive brain scans on children suffering from conditions such as epilepsy. It’s this application that best demonstrates the real-world advantages quantum technologies can bring to medical diagnostics.
According to market research group McKinsey, the quantum sector has an exhilarating future ahead of it. By 2025, it can surprise a stunning value of as much as $97 billion (£74 billion). This projection is a testament to the growing excitement around quantum computing and its prospective influence on every field imaginable.
According to Rajeeb Hazra, the CEO of Quantinuum, quantum computing will have meaningful effects on consumers. He argues that soon these effects will be felt in virtually every facet of our lives. As these technologies advance, they hold the potential to fundamentally transform how people engage with technology and information.
First, quantum computers have a much more complex architecture than traditional classical machines. They work based on the principles of quantum mechanics that, among other things, give them the ability to perform calculations at completely new speeds. These kinds of capabilities create potential for new innovations that were once considered impossible.
Elon Musk has said the moon would be an ideal place for quantum computing. He highlights its “permanently shadowed craters” as the ideal terrain for this cutting-edge technology. This idea is emblematic of the ongoing search for rich computational landscapes that will nurture a new generation of computational magic.
One of the most promising and talked-about applications of quantum computing is personalized medicine. According to Hazra, this technology could lead to highly tailored medical treatments based on individual patient data, thus enhancing healthcare outcomes.
Like any emerging technology, there are real risks to be aware of as quantum progresses. Though today’s strongest encryption will one day meet its end against the advancing power of quantum computing. Alan Woodward, cybersecurity researcher at Surrey University, referred to this as “harvest now, decrypt later.” He emphasized the growing dangers of state-sponsored cyber aggression.
Moreover, Daniel Shiu, former head of cryptographic design at GCHQ, recently sounded serious alarms on cybersecurity as well. He cautioned that the personal information of almost all citizens in the UK could be at risk due to recent state-sponsored cyber attacks attributed to China. These findings highlight the critical need to establish security protocols in anticipation of the growing adoption of quantum technologies.
Dr. Michael Cuthbert, director of the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre, has been quoted on the transformative potential of quantum computing. His insights contribute to a broader discourse on how society can harness these advancements for collective benefit while addressing associated challenges.