Commentary The Quantum Era Crept Up While You Were Watching Ai

A Rigetti quantum computer displayed at the Nvidia GTC in October. Step aside, artificial intelligence. Another transformative technology with the potential to reshape industries and reorder geopolitical power is finally moving out of the lab: quantum. The United Nations dubbed 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. It’s been marked by a flurry of announcements — and a mountain of hype — around a mind-boggling field of science long dismissed as perpetually a decade away from usefulness. But that’s how people talked about AI, too, before ChatGPT spurred the current global arms race and investor euphoria.

The sheer pace of quantum activity from tech firms in 2025 would have been unthinkable even five years ago, says Catherine Thorbecke for Bloomberg Opinion. People work at a cleanroom that manufactures 300mm silicon wafers containing quantum computing chips at the Albany NanoTech Complex in Albany, New York, US, in this handout image released on Nov 10, 2025. IBM/Handout via REUTERS TOKYO: Step aside, artificial intelligence. Another transformative technology with the potential to reshape industries and reorder geopolitical power is finally moving out of the lab: quantum. The United Nations dubbed 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.

It’s been marked by a flurry of announcements – and a mountain of hype – around a mind-boggling field of science long dismissed as perpetually a decade away from usefulness. But that’s how people talked about AI, too, before ChatGPT spurred the current global arms race and investor euphoria. Quantum technology taps the odd mechanics of quantum physics – how particles behave at the atomic level – to create computers, sensors and communications gear that are exponentially more powerful than today’s. Classic computers process information in bits, which can be represented as “0” or “1”. Quantum computers use qubits, which – bear with me for a moment – can exist in a superposition of both states at the same time. That allows them to evaluate a vast number of possibilities at extraordinary speed.

We are told the quantum era is not so far off. The truth is the quantum era has already begun. So far, human history has witnessed several technological revolutions that have reshaped economies, societies, and the very way we think. We have witnessed various industrial revolutions, the age of electricity, the digital revolution, the ongoing AI era, and now, on the horizon, the quantum era. This emerging era promises to redefine what is computationally possible, bringing with it transformative advances in computing, communication, sensing, and beyond. Two of the most revolutionary technologies of the 21st century, as of now, are quantum computing and artificial intelligence (AI).

They are already reshaping research and industry on their own. But what happens when these two fields begin to merge? The answer could redefine what humanity can achieve, unlocking entirely new frontiers in science, medicine, finance, and beyond. Quantum technology could lead to breakthroughs in drug discovery, cryptography and cybersecurity, materials, climate modelling, pharmaceutical research, EV battery development, bin packing, cargo delivery, route optimisation, and image classification. Quantum AI systems help design new molecules or optimise complex systems. The era of quantum computing is the timeline in human history when quantum technologies—based on the principles of quantum mechanics—start moving from theoretical and experimental research into practical, real-world applications that affect business, science,...

Beyond economic competition, quantum technology has geopolitical significance. It could reshape cybersecurity, defence, and even the balance of scientific leadership between nations. Quantum computers may not replace classical computers or supercomputers soon. Instead, they will work alongside, solving problems once thought impossible and helping humanity tackle its grandest challenges—from curing diseases to fighting climate change. It’s about entering an age when quantum technologies complement and transform what’s possible, often by solving problems classical systems can’t tackle efficiently. Globally, many countries are tremendously working on quantum technology at various levels.

Recognising the transformative potential of quantum technologies, countries around the world have launched ambitious initiatives. India launched the National Quantum Mission (NQM) in 2023, with a budget of around Rs 6,000 crore. The mission has set specific goals: develop intermediate-scale quantum computers (50-1000 physical qubits). Creating quantum communication networks, including satellite-based secure links. Build skilled human capital through new research centres, academic programmes, and industry partnerships. Supporting quantum sensing technologies for space, defence, and healthcare.

It’s fascinating to see how quantum computing, a technology that’s been talked about for more than two decades, is finally starting to cross the threshold of possibility into the realm of application. For years, it remained in the background while AI took center stage, grabbing headlines, funding, and fast-track adoption across enterprises. But now, quantum is making a strong, quiet move-not with a bang, but with a strategic build-up that’s gaining serious momentum. What’s driving this shift? It’s not just better hardware. It’s the fact that the ecosystem is maturing.

Companies like Microsoft, IBM, Intel, and Amazon are no longer just experimenting-they're building roadmaps, launching processors, and investing in quantum-ready cloud platforms. Microsoft recently unveiled "Majorana 1," a quantum chip based on topological qubits, a novel approach aimed at reducing errors and improving scalability. IBM, meanwhile, has crossed the 1,000-qubit mark with their Condor chip. And Amazon is taking a different route with its cat qubit-based approach, trying to solve error correction challenges in its own unique way. Unlike AI, which thrives on data abundance and is fairly modular in its deployment, quantum computing is a whole different beast. It doesn’t just plug into your existing enterprise stack.

It demands new logic, new algorithms, and in some cases, entirely new ways of thinking. That’s one reason why its adoption curve has been slower-the learning curve is steeper, the hardware is expensive, and the skill sets required are still niche. But the potential? Enormous. Think drug discovery, materials engineering, financial modeling-all at speeds and scales that today’s classical systems simply can’t match. Refer infographic below: McKinsey’s 2024 quantum technology ecosystem highlights a $173B potential market by 2040, with quantum computing alone estimated between $45B–$131B and over 367 start-ups already active across the ecosystem.

And here's the twist: while AI has democratized rapidly, quantum may not. Its power could remain in the hands of a few major players for a while. This creates a strategic race-not just to build, but to lead. And the stakes are high. Whoever cracks quantum advantage first could redefine what’s possible in computing, science, and industry. A silent revolution is unfolding in the realm of computing.

While today’s classical machines have powered decades of innovation, they are approaching their physical and functional limits. To leap into the next era — of drug discovery, climate prediction, AI evolution, and cryptography — we need more. Enter quantum computing, a paradigm shift poised to transform the way we compute, analyze, and solve. And who’s at the helm of this evolution? The titans of technology: Google, IBM, Microsoft, Amazon, Intel, and a growing ecosystem of startups and research institutes. Their massive investments and moonshot roadmaps signal that the quantum era has officially begun.

Quantum computing is not about being “faster” — it’s about solving different classes of problems that classical systems can’t solve efficiently at all. Together, these principles allow quantum systems to explore vast solution spaces in parallel, making them uniquely powerful for solving: These partnerships are pushing innovation while creating the next generation of quantum talent. Every generation believes it stands at the edge of something extraordinary. The discovery of fire, the invention of the wheel, the printing press, electricity, the internet—each milestone reshaped civilization, rewriting the possibilities of what humans could create and become. Today, we stand at the brink of another such transformation, one born not of stone or steel but of information and intelligence.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing, two of the most powerful technologies ever conceived, are advancing at an astonishing pace. Each on its own is already altering the world. But when they converge, the impact may be nothing short of revolutionary. This meeting of minds—one digital, one quantum—represents more than a technological milestone. It is a new chapter in the story of human creativity and understanding, one that challenges our imagination and demands we reconsider the limits of possibility. Artificial intelligence is not simply machines doing what they are told.

It is machines learning, adapting, and in some ways, thinking. AI encompasses a range of technologies designed to mimic aspects of human intelligence, from pattern recognition to reasoning, decision-making, and even creativity. At its heart, AI is about data. It ingests vast amounts of information, identifies patterns too complex for humans to notice, and applies those insights to tasks such as language translation, medical diagnosis, self-driving vehicles, and even generating works of art. In recent years, with the rise of deep learning and neural networks, AI systems have begun to achieve feats once thought impossible: defeating world champions in games of strategy, generating human-like conversation, and uncovering... Yet despite its power, AI still faces limits.

Training complex models demands staggering amounts of data and computing resources. Optimization problems—those requiring the best possible solution from countless possibilities—can overwhelm even the fastest supercomputers. These bottlenecks have fueled the search for something beyond classical computing. That search leads us into the quantum realm.

People Also Search

• Quantum Era Crept Up While You Were Watching AI - Bloomberg
• Commentary: The quantum era crept up while you were watching AI
• Opinion | Quantum Era: A New Technological Revolution
• Commentary- The quantum era crept up while you were watching AI
• While Everyone was Watching AI…Quantum's Time is Finally Here
• The world should prepare for the looming quantum era
• The Quantum Era Begins: Big Tech's Leap into Quantum Computing
• The Quantum Era Crept Up While You Were Watching AI
• AI and Quantum Computing: What Happens When They Meet