Exploring the revolutionary technology that could transform medicine, materials science, and cryptography
Imagine a computer that could discover life-saving drugs in days rather than decades, break the encryption that protects our digital world, or design revolutionary materials with atomic precision. This isn't the premise of a science fiction novel—it's the promise of quantum computing, a technological revolution unfolding in laboratories around the world today. While classical computers have transformed society, they struggle with the complexity of nature itself. Quantum computers, operating on the bizarre principles of quantum mechanics, offer to solve problems that would take even the most powerful supercomputers thousands of years 6 .
Investment in quantum startups in 2024
Since the development of quantum mechanics
The year 2025 has been designated the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, commemorating a century since the initial development of quantum mechanics 2 . This timing is remarkably appropriate, as quantum computing is rapidly transitioning from theoretical speculation to tangible reality. Recent breakthroughs suggest we're approaching a watershed moment. As one analyst describes it, the race for quantum computing is "an ultra-marathon not a sprint" 1 , but the finish line may be closer than we think.
Investment is surging, with nearly $2 billion pouring into quantum startups in 2024 alone—a 50% increase from the previous year 2 .
Major technology companies including IBM, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft are in a fierce competition to build increasingly powerful quantum machines, while governments worldwide are making massive investments in what they see as a strategic technology for the future 2 5 . Japan, for instance, announced a staggering $7.4 billion bet on quantum technology in early 2025 2 .
But what exactly makes quantum computers so powerful? The answer lies in the counterintuitive rules of the quantum realm, where the ordinary logic of our everyday world no longer applies.
To understand quantum computing, we must first grasp how it differs from classical computing. Traditional computers use bits—tiny switches that can be either 0 or 1. Every website, photo, and app on your phone consists of intricate patterns of these binary digits. Quantum computers, however, use quantum bits or "qubits," which behave according to different rules 6 .
A qubit can exist as 0, 1, or both simultaneously. This "both-at-once" state is called superposition. It's like a spinning coin that is neither purely heads nor purely tails, but somehow both at once until it lands. This allows quantum computers to explore multiple possibilities in parallel 6 .
When qubits become entangled, they form an intimate connection regardless of distance. Measuring one instantly reveals information about the other, creating correlations that Einstein famously called "spooky action at a distance." This interconnection allows quantum computers to solve complex, interconnected problems more efficiently 6 .
Quantum states can act like waves, either reinforcing each other when they peak together (constructive interference) or canceling each other out when peaks meet troughs (destructive interference). Quantum algorithms use interference to amplify correct answers and cancel out wrong ones, steering the computation toward the solution 6 .
These properties enable quantum computers to solve certain classes of problems with unprecedented efficiency. Shor's algorithm, for instance, could break widely used encryption methods by factoring enormous numbers exponentially faster than classical computers 3 . Grover's algorithm provides a quadratic speedup for searching unstructured databases 3 . Meanwhile, the Variational Quantum Eigensolver is particularly promising for simulating molecular structures, potentially revolutionizing drug discovery and materials science 3 .
Building a practical quantum computer is enormously challenging due to the fragile nature of quantum states. Qubits are easily disturbed by minute environmental influences in a process called decoherence. To minimize this, quantum computers often require extreme isolation, sometimes operating at temperatures near absolute zero (-273°C) 6 .
Researchers are pursuing several different technological approaches to create stable, scalable qubits, each with distinct advantages and challenges:
| Technology | Key Features | Leading Developers | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superconducting | Fast operations, requires extreme cooling | IBM, Google, Amazon | IBM's Condor processor has 1,121 qubits 7 |
| Trapped Ions | High fidelity, long coherence times | IonQ, Quantinuum | IonQ Forte achieved 36 algorithmic qubits 5 |
| Neutral Atoms | Natural scalability, longer coherence | Harvard/MIT, QuEra, Chinese teams | 48-2024 atoms in arrays 4 |
| Photonic | Room temperature operation, good for networking | Xanadu | Accessible via cloud services 5 |
The quantum ecosystem has expanded dramatically in recent years. The landscape now includes over 70 major companies, ranging from tech giants like IBM, which has deployed more than 70 quantum computers worldwide 7 , to specialized startups such as PsiQuantum and Quantinuum, which collectively received half of all quantum investments in 2024 2 .
While all quantum approaches show promise, one recent experiment exemplifies the remarkable pace of progress. In 2025, a Chinese team from the Shanghai Quantum Science Research Center, Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, and University of Science and Technology of China achieved a world record that could dramatically accelerate the development of practical quantum computers 4 .
The researchers were working with neutral atoms—atoms with no overall electric charge—as their qubits. These atoms are trapped and manipulated using laser beams called "optical tweezers" to form precise arrays. However, a significant bottleneck has limited this approach: creating large, perfect arrays of atoms. Initially, atoms load randomly into these traps, leaving some empty ("defects"). Traditional methods to rearrange atoms into perfect patterns became increasingly slow and inefficient as the array size grew, similar to how organizing a large audience alphabetically would take progressively longer as more people arrive 4 .
Largest defect-free arrays ever created
Rearrangement time regardless of array size
The Chinese team pioneered a revolutionary solution using artificial intelligence. They developed a specialized AI model that could calculate the optimal rearrangement pathway in mere milliseconds. This AI controls a high-speed spatial light modulator to simultaneously move all atoms to their correct positions in a "parallel" process, unlike the sequential approach of previous methods 4 .
The results were stunning: the team created perfect two-dimensional and three-dimensional arrays containing 2,024 atoms—the largest such defect-free arrays ever reported. Even more impressively, they accomplished this rearrangement in just 60 milliseconds, regardless of array size. This parallel approach means the same 60-millisecond rearrangement time would apply even for arrays of tens of thousands of atoms in the future 4 .
To demonstrate their unprecedented control, the researchers created an animation of "Schrödinger's cat"—the famous quantum thought experiment—by precisely arranging individual rubidium atoms to form the images 4 .
This achievement represents more than just a technical milestone. The system demonstrated remarkably high operational accuracy: 99.97% for single-qubit gates, 99.5% for two-qubit gates, and 99.92% for readout 4 . These figures meet or exceed the thresholds needed for effective error correction and approach the levels required for fault-tolerant quantum computation.
| Performance Metric | Achieved Fidelity | Importance for Quantum Computing |
|---|---|---|
| Single-Qubit Gate | 99.97% | Essential for basic quantum operations |
| Two-Qubit Gate | 99.5% | Critical for quantum entanglement |
| Readout Fidelity | 99.92% | Necessary for accurate measurement |
| Array Rearrangement Speed | 60 ms | Enables rapid configuration of large systems |
This breakthrough, published as an "Editor's Suggestion" in Physical Review Letters, was highlighted by Physics magazine as a significant research highlight. The journal's reviewers noted it represents "a major leap in computational efficiency and experimental feasibility" for atomic quantum physics 4 .
Building quantum computers requires extraordinary engineering and specialized components. The Chinese experiment illustrates several key elements of the quantum hardware toolkit:
| Component | Function | Specific Example in the Experiment |
|---|---|---|
| Neutral Atoms | Serve as physical qubits | Rubidium atoms 4 |
| Laser Systems | Create optical tweezers to trap atoms | Laser beams forming arrays of traps 4 |
| Spatial Light Modulator | Shapes and directs laser beams | High-speed modulator dynamically controlled by AI 4 |
| AI Control System | Optimizes atom arrangement | Custom-developed large language model for real-time control 4 |
| Cryogenic Systems | Cool environment to reduce decoherence | Ultra-cold temperatures to maintain quantum states |
Similar advances are occurring across other quantum platforms. At the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), researchers have developed techniques to extend qubit coherence times to 0.6 milliseconds—a significant achievement for superconducting quantum technology 9 . They accomplished this by encapsulating niobium qubit surfaces with gold or tantalum to prevent the formation of lossy oxides that cause decoherence 9 .
The path to fully fault-tolerant quantum computers is typically divided into three phases:
Demonstrating that a quantum computer can solve some problem—any problem—faster than the world's best supercomputers. This milestone has already been claimed by several groups, including Google in 2019 .
Showing that quantum computers can provide value for practical problems, even if classical computers could still solve them with more time and resources. We are entering this phase now, with researchers using quantum computers to explore problems in chemistry and optimization 7 .
Building systems with sufficient qubits and error correction to solve broadly useful problems that are completely intractable for classical computers. This final goal remains years away 7 .
Looking forward, we're rapidly approaching what experts call the "quantum-classical hybrid" era, where quantum computers won't replace classical computers but will work alongside them, tackling specific challenging portions of larger problems 7 . As one Chinese scientist describes it, "If ordinary computers are 'bicycles' and AI-powered computers are 'high-speed rails,' then quantum computers are 'airplanes.' The collaboration of all three will be the ultimate form of future computing power" 7 .
Quantum computing revenue in 2024
Expected revenue in 2025
The timeline for meaningful quantum impact is compressed. Quantum computing companies generated $650-750 million in revenue in 2024 and are expected to surpass $1 billion in 2025 2 . Early adopters in pharmaceutical, chemical, aerospace, and finance institutions are already experimenting with quantum solutions 1 3 .
Quantum computing represents more than just a technological upgrade—it's a fundamental reimagining of computation itself. While challenges remain, the breakneck pace of innovation, surging investment, and growing list of real-world applications suggest that quantum computers will soon transition from laboratory curiosities to transformative tools.
"I thought it was a long shot, and I'm really rather flabbergasted at how fast it's actually progressed."
That progress continues to accelerate, bringing us closer to solving some of humanity's most complex challenges.
The quantum future isn't just coming—it's being built in laboratories today, one qubit at a time.