A Reality Check On Forbes 20 Real World Quantum Computing Applications

When a mainstream piece on quantum computing lands, I usually file it under “interesting, but not news”. Yet over the past few days my inbox and Signal chats have been flooded with links to Forbes Tech Council’s new listicle, “20 Real‑World Applications of Quantum Computing to Watch.” Enough colleagues and clients... Rather than draft twenty individual replies, I’m parking my thoughts here for everyone who pinged me. Quantum is enjoying a peak‑hype moment, so every bold claim deserves a reality check. A few of Forbes’s examples are genuinely promising; several smash together disparate ideas without noting the engineering road‑map; and some miss key caveats that separate “demo‑ready” from “production‑ready.” The authors could have done a... That said, knee‑jerk contrarianism is just as unhelpful as uncritical hype.

As I argued in my recent essay on Quantum Contrarianism, pointing out a few overstatements does not prove the entire field is snake oil. The signal sits somewhere between the boosters and the naysayers. Below is a quick, rundown of key use cases: where Forbes is on-target, where it overreaches, and where the signal is still buried in marketing noise. Forbes rightly highlights communication security as a top application. This is valid and already happening – as I often write about, QKD is already enabling provably secure key exchange (e.g., the Micius satellite network) and quantum random generators (QRNG) are bolstering encryption keys. These are real deployments.

In this domain, quantum tech is a clear boon for cybersecurity, not just a future hope. We can validate that quantum-secured communication links (whether fiber or satellite) are operational today, protecting diplomatic and financial data against both classical and quantum spying. Quantum computing solves complex problems that traditional computers cannot, making it a game-changer across industries. Practical applications span multiple sectors, from secure communication and drug discovery to AI, healthcare, finance, and climate forecasting. The technology is transformative but emerging, offering faster, more precise, and innovative solutions that will shape the future. Quantum computers ensure that the machine tries all possibilities at once.

Traditional computers pick one path at a time. Qubits allow the exploration of many paths, processing huge data and solving problems that classical machines cannot. Quantum computing works on superposition, entanglement, and interference. These principles give it power and speed. Today, most quantum computers are in research labs. They are large and expensive, displaying immense potential.

Let’s take a look at some real-world applications that implement quantum solutions. Four guidelines for advancing commercial quantum computing: Quantum computing is having a moment as the pace of startup activity, innovation, and funding deals heats up. Commercialized quantum computers and applications are a decade or more away, experts estimate. Yet it’s not too early for technology and business leaders to track quantum as it evolves from a novelty into a critical asset for solving industry’s and society’s toughest problems. Quantum is early in its trajectory, considering that it took classical computing nearly a century to progress from the vacuum tubes of 1906 to the superchips powering AI and high-performance computing today, said William...

In a presentation for MIT Data Center Day, organized by the MIT Industrial Liaison Program, Oliver made the case that quantum computing is actively transitioning from a scientific curiosity to a technical reality —... Discover how quantum computing is moving from theory to real-world use. From healthcare and finance to AI and logistics, learn how industries are using quantum to solve complex problems faster, smarter, and better — in this simple, beginner-friendly guide. For years, quantum computing lived in labs and academic journals — mysterious, complex, and far from everyday life. But not anymore. We’ve entered a time where quantum computing is leaving the lab and entering the world of real problems, real companies, and real impact.

From discovering life-saving drugs to planning traffic in mega-cities, industries are now exploring how quantum computers can solve the unsolvable. Let’s dive into how quantum computing is becoming a game-changer for industries around the globe. Quantum computing is a new type of computing that thinks differently. Quantum computing (QC) has often felt like a theoretical concept due to the many hurdles researchers must clear. Chief among them is upping the number of qubits, or the units of information that these impressive pieces of hardware use to perform tasks. Whereas classical computer “bits” exist as 1s or 0s, qubits can be either — or both simultaneously.

That’s key to massively greater processing speeds, which are necessary to simulate molecular-level quantum mechanics. But quantum computers are inching closer to reality, thanks to Microsoft focusing on another key issue. Microsoft and Quantinuum have figured out a way to check qubit errors without altering a quantum computer’s environment, signaling a new era in quantum computing. Quantum computers have a reputation for being unreliable since even the most minute changes can create ‘noise’ that makes it difficult to get accurate results, if any. The discovery by Microsoft and Quantinuum addresses this problem and reignites the heated race between top tech companies like Microsoft, Google and IBM to conquer quantum computing. But even once quantum computing reigns supreme, its potential impact remains largely theoretical.

Still, quantum’s hypothetical nature hasn’t stopped a steady stream of investment in the hope quantum computing could be a game-changer for various industries. From cybersecurity to pharmaceutical research to finance, here are some ways quantum computing facilitates major advancements. More on Quantum ComputingSkills You Need to Launch a Quantum Computing Career

People Also Search

• 20 Real-World Applications Of Quantum Computing To Watch - Forbes
• A Reality Check on Forbes' "20 Real-World Quantum Computing Applications"
• Top Real-Life Applications of Quantum Computing - Analytics Insight
• Quantum computing reality check: What business needs to know now
• Quantum Computing's Real-World Applications: From Labs to Industries
• Quantum computing: How far are we from the quantum dream?
• Applications of Quantum Computing: Real-World Use Cases
• 11 Quantum Computing Applications and Examples - Built In
• Top 5 Real-World Applications of Quantum Computing in 2025 and Beyond
• The Realistic Path To Quantum Computing: Separating Hype From ... - Forbes