What Is Quantum Computing?
Quantum computing is an emerging technology that harnesses the strange principles of quantum mechanics to perform calculations far beyond the reach of classical computers. While AI dominates today's headlines, tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and IBM are already investing heavily in quantum computing as the next paradigm shift. A recent survey by security firm Thales found that 31% of people still believe quantum computing is science fiction, but experts confirm it is real and advancing rapidly.
Quantum computers already exist in experimental form, but they have not yet been perfected due to the bizarre behavior of quantum particles. Unlike classical computers, which use bits that are either 0 or 1, quantum computers use qubits that can be both 0 and 1 simultaneously. This property, called superposition, allows quantum computers to explore many possibilities at once.
How Do Quantum Computers Work?
Quantum chips must be cooled to -273.15°C, colder than outer space, to make particles behave in quantum ways. At these temperatures, electrons and other particles can exist in multiple states at the same time. Charina Chou, director of Google Quantum AI, explains: 'When I set my phone down, I know it’s going to stay in that place. But when an electron goes around an atom, it’s in multiple places at once. It’s not just in place A, but place A and place B.'
Qubits can be made from various exotic materials, such as light particles or superconductors — metals that exhibit quantum behavior when supercooled. Each material has its own advantages and challenges. Microsoft has even created a new state of matter, known as a topological state, to power its quantum chip, which behaves in ways that solids, liquids, or gases cannot. Currently, quantum chips can only pack about 100 qubits, but the goal is to reach 100,000 qubits for practical applications.
What Could Quantum Computing Be Used For?
Quantum computers won't speed up streaming Netflix or improve your phone. Jason Soroko, senior fellow at Sectigo, says: 'What people will actually encounter is invisible. The batteries in cars, the drugs in medicine cabinets, the fertilisers behind food and the materials in buildings will have been designed with help from quantum simulation and the user will never know it happened.'
One of the most promising applications is in medicine. Quantum computing could model cancer at the molecular level, enabling doctors to create targeted treatments. 'A person might feel like they’ve got a growing lump. But underneath all of that can be completely different things at the molecular scale,' Chou notes. In March, IBM used a quantum computer to decode the structure of a new molecule, demonstrating its potential for drug discovery.
Quantum computers could also help solve fundamental scientific mysteries. Ivano Tavernelli, a researcher at IBM Research Zurich, says: 'Quantum computers have the potential to illuminate parts of the universe that are currently far beyond the reach of even our most advanced classical simulations.' This includes understanding antimatter and neutrinos. Google's Willow quantum chip is already being used by King's College London to study quantum phenomena too complex for classical computers.
Security Risks and Timeline
Quantum computers pose a significant threat to current encryption methods. In 2024, Google's Willow chip solved a math problem in five minutes that would take a supercomputer 10 septillion years — a number with 24 zeros, older than the universe. This capability could break the codes that governments and banks use to protect data, prompting security experts to develop quantum-resistant cryptography.
Microsoft expects to achieve a scalable quantum computer by 2029, halving its original timeline. Zulfi Alam, corporate vice president at Microsoft, says: 'I see the future of computing as hybrid, where quantum technologies work alongside AI and high-performance computing.' Chou draws a historical parallel: 'Think to the 1940s, when we had these gigantic computers, nobody back then could have imagined your phone. Quantum will be similar to that.'
