Quantum Computing, AI, and Cybersecurity
As we close the chapter on 2024 and its remarkable quantum breakthroughs, it’s time to focus on the trends and challenges shaping the quantum computing landscape this year.
In 2025, the focus will shift from exploring theoretical possibilities to demonstrating tangible business value, known as quantum utility, in real-world applications. The latter would likely be achieved with specialized application-specific hardware and software and hybrid classical-AI-quantum computations.
Focus on Quantum Utility
The emphasis will shift further from “quantum supremacy” (demonstrating that a quantum computer can perform a task that is intractable for classical computers) to “quantum utility” (solving real-world problems that provide business value). More companies will claim quantum utility for specific use cases. This is the key theme for 2025 that explains the other trends.
Hybrid Quantum-Classical Computing
While full-scale quantum computers are still some time away, the trend of combining classical and quantum computing resources will continue to grow. This involves using classical computers to handle certain computation parts while offloading computationally intensive tasks to quantum processors. This trend will lead to the rise of the hybrid quantum-classical-AI offerings by the data centers and the cloud computing providers, as well as the on-premise quantum systems installation, with companies focusing on solving integration challenges and adapting algorithms to these hybrid workflows.
Specialized Quantum Hardware
Instead of pursuing universal, gate-based quantum computers, which face significant technological hurdles, some companies, such as D-Wave and Kipu Quantum, are developing specialized quantum hardware tailored for specific problem types. These specialized systems, such as analog quantum computers and hybrid analog-digital systems, may offer a faster path to solving commercially relevant problems, even if they are less versatile than general-purpose quantum computers.
Increased Investments and Growing Public Interest
In 2025, we can expect a surge in both private and public investment in quantum computing as qubit counts increase, error rates decrease, and qubit connectivity improves. The approaching prospect of quantum utility, even in niche applications, is attracting the attention of early adopters across various industries.
- A McKinsey report suggests that up to $80 billion could be invested in quantum technologies by the end of the 2030s.
- The number of scientific publications and patent filings related to quantum computing continues to rise exponentially.
- A Gartner report suggests that more than 40% of large enterprises will have quantum computing initiatives in place by 2025. This number was around 1% in 2023.
More Regulation and Control
As the technology starts to show early promise, governments worldwide are likely to introduce or further work on more detailed technology standards, investment or public funding regulations, and export controls, aiming to capture the future value generated by the technology at the national or regional level, with an initial focus on defense use cases.
Challenges facing players in this field
Quantum computing’s potential is undeniable, but the path to widespread adoption is filled with challenges. Addressing these will define the industry’s trajectory in 2025.
Scalability
Scaling quantum computers to the size required for real-world applications presents a formidable engineering challenge. Not only must the number of qubits increase dramatically from the current range of a few hundred to potentially millions of logical qubits, but these qubits must also maintain high quality (low error rates, long coherence times) and be interconnected in complex ways. Maintaining coherence and managing inter-qubit interactions becomes exponentially more difficult as the system grows.
Error Correction
Achieving fault-tolerant quantum computation, which involves robust and efficient error correction, is essential for practical quantum computing but remains a long-term goal. Current error rates per logical operation, approximately 10-3, are far too high and need to be reduced by at least ten orders of magnitude for fault tolerance. This will enable complex quantum algorithms to run for extended periods without errors corrupting the computation.
Cost
Quantum computing is currently 100,000 times more expensive than classical computing ($1,000 to $5,000 per hour for quantum machines compared with $0.05 per hour for classical computing). Reducing costs is essential for broader adoption. Reducing these costs is essential for the wider adoption and commercialization of quantum computing.
Algorithm Development
The development of quantum algorithms that demonstrate a clear and substantial advantage over classical algorithms is still in its early stages. While a few algorithms, such as Shor’s and Grover’s, have shown great potential, more research is urgently needed to discover and develop quantum algorithms tailored to specific applications across various industries, including materials science, pharmaceuticals, finance, and artifфбicial intelligence.
Software and Programming
Programming quantum computers is fundamentally different from classical programming. Developing user-friendly software tools, platforms, and programming languages is crucial for making quantum computing accessible to a wider range of developers and future enterprise users.
Talent Gap
And the last, but as important as the first one – there is a shortage of skilled professionals with expertise in quantum computing, physics, engineering, and software development. Universities and training programs are expanding their quantum education offerings, but the demand for skilled individuals currently outpaces the supply, making interdisciplinary collaboration and attracting talent from related fields essential. To address this, initiatives like the Open Quantum Institute, hosted at CERN, aim to grow a new generation of quantum experts focusing on underserved geographies.
The challenges facing quantum computing are significant, but so are the rewards for those who address them proactively. If your organization is ready to lead in this new era of quantum innovation, now is the time to act. Contact our team today to discuss how we can help you navigate these challenges and build a roadmap to quantum readiness. Together, we can turn obstacles into opportunities.