Moving on to artificial intelligence, quantum computing will be the most powerful and worrying technology

In 2022, leaders in the U.S. military technology and cybersecurity community said they view 2023 as the reset year for quantum computing. They estimated that the time needed to make the systems quantum safe will correspond to the time when the first quantum computers that threaten their security become available: in both cases about four to six years. It is critical that industry leaders quickly begin to understand the security issues surrounding quantum computing and take action to resolve the problems that will arise as this powerful technology emerges.

Quantum computing is a cutting-edge technology that presents a unique set of challenges and promises unprecedented computational power. Unlike traditional computing, which operates using binary logic (0s and 1s) and sequential calculations, quantum computing works with quantum bits, or qubits, which can represent an infinite number of possible outcomes. This allows quantum computers to perform huge numbers of calculations simultaneously, taking advantage of the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics.

Potential of quantum computing

The potential of quantum computing lies in this ability to process large amounts of information in parallel, leading to exponential increases in computational power compared to classical computers. While a classical computer can calculate the outcome of a one-person race, a quantum computer could simultaneously analyze a race involving millions of participants with different paths and determine the most likely winner using probability-based algorithms. Quantum computers are uniquely suited to solving optimization problems and simulations with multiple probabilistic outcomes, revolutionizing industries such as logistics, healthcare, finance, cybersecurity, weather monitoring, agriculture and more. Their impact could extend to geopolitics, reshaping power dynamics on a global scale.

Quantum computing requires a completely different approach to programming due to its new logic paradigm. Embracing uncertainty and iterative heuristic approaches are essential to effectively exploit the potential of this technology. However, a significant challenge in quantum computing is the need to connect more qubits without increasing the probability of errors. This remains a critical barrier to the commercial growth of the technology.

A practical constraint is the need to isolate qubits from the real-world environment to avoid decoherence, which degrades the quantum state. Currently, extremely low temperature cooling is used for insulation. Ongoing research is exploring various methodologies, including photonics and different materials, to make quantum processors more scalable and commercially viable.

Thousand qubits strong

Quantum computing has made significant progress over the past decade. IBM, for example, launched a 50-qubit chip in 2017, and in 2019 said it outperformed the fastest mainstream supercomputer on certain calculations. Further progress is expected, with the race to develop 1,000-qubit quantum computers already underway.

While short-term projections about quantum computing may be overstated, the long-term results are likely to be game-changers. The growing global interest from various sectors warrants a significant capital commitment and paves the way for extraordinary practical innovations in the coming years.

For quantum computers to reach their full potential, the development of error-correcting qubits is crucial. Current quantum processors often require a significant number of standard qubits to achieve a single error-correcting qubit. However, there is optimism that the issue will be addressed within the next few years.

Quantum computing holds the promise of transforming our world by providing unprecedented computational power and revolutionizing various industries and fields. While challenges remain, continued advances in quantum technology suggest breakthroughs could occur at any time. Harnessing the potential of quantum computing is likely to be the most impactful frontier technology, driving significant advances in our society.

Daniel Doll-Steinberg is co-founder of EdenBase.