Jensen Huang Admits Mistake Says I Was Wrong About Quantum Computing

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Jan 2, 2026, 5:52 AM

jensen huang admits mistake says i was wrong about quantum computing

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on Thursday walked back comments he made in January, when he cast doubt on whether useful quantum computers would hit the market in the next 15 years. At Nvidia's "Quantum Day" event, part of the company's annual GTC Conference, Huang admitted that his comments came out wrong. "This is the first event in history where a company CEO invites all of the guests to explain why he was wrong," Huang said. In January, Huang sent quantum computing stocks reeling when he said 15 years was "on the early side" in considering how long it would be before the technology would be useful. He said at the time that 20 years was a timeframe that "a whole bunch of us would believe." In his opening comments on Thursday, Huang drew comparisons between pre-revenue quantum companies and Nvidia's early days.

He said it took over 20 years for Nvidia to build out its software and hardware business. D-Wave Quantum CEO Alan Baratz said Nvidia’s Jensen Huang is “dead wrong” about quantum computing after comments from the head of the chip giant spooked Wall Street on Wednesday. Huang was asked on Tuesday about Nvidia’s strategy for quantum computing. He said Nvidia could make conventional chips that are needed alongside quantum computing chips, but that those computers would need 1 million times the number of quantum processing units, called qubits, than they currently... Getting “very useful quantum computers” to market could take 15 to 30 years, Huang told analysts. Huang’s remarks sent stocks in the nascent industry slumping, with D-Wave plunging 36% on Wednesday.

“The reason he’s wrong is that we at D-Wave are commercial today,” Baratz told CNBC’s Deidre Bosa on “The Exchange.” Baratz said companies including Mastercard and Japan’s NTT Docomo “are using our quantum computers... Nvidia (NVDA) chief executive Jensen Huang apologized for tanking quantum computing stocks earlier this year when he said the technology’s usefulness is still decades away — but one analyst says he’s actually right. During a Quantum Day session at the company’s annual GTC developer conference, Huang said he didn’t know there were publicly traded quantum computing companies when he made comments in January that led the stocks... “My first reaction was, I didn’t know they were public,” Huang said in remarks reported by Bloomberg. “How can a quantum company be public?” Huang said the event, which included executives from several quantum firms as well as Amazon (AMZN) and Microsoft (MSFT), was the first “in history where a company CEO invites all of the guests to...

He added that “quantum computing has the potential and all of our hopes that it will deliver extraordinary impact,” but that “the technology is insanely complicated.” Despite the damage control, Huang “was right and all he did in January was point out the obvious fact that quantum computing is very unlikely to be a major economic force for another 15... This happened in March, but I did not see anyone on this platform covering it. Late as it may be, this should be covered! Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was a public face of quantum skepticism. He consistently framed practical quantum computing as a distant reality, suggesting it could be 15 to 30 years away.

In classic Zuck style, Mark Zuckerberg echoed his sentiments, while admitting that he was not an expert on the matter (lol). Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) CEO, Jensen Huang admitted his comments about quantum computing developments in January, which led to a decline in quantum computing stocks were wrong. He discussed the developments in the field with the leaders of these companies during the GTC AI Conference on Thursday. What Happened: Huang’s statements in January pulled the shares of quantum computing companies down, with some experiencing losses exceeding 40%. During CES 2025, Huang stated that practical quantum computing is likely two decades away.

Nvidia set a timeline of 15 to 30 years for "very useful" quantum computers, with a consensus within the company leaning towards a 20-year horizon. During GTC on Thursday, he said, "My first reaction was, I didn't know they were public! How could a quantum computer company be public?" he said. Huang said "They can explain why I was wrong," pointing toward the panel of speakers that he had invited from firms like PsiQuantum, D-Wave Quantum Inc., and IonQ Inc. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang apologized for comments he made earlier this year that caused stock prices of quantum computing companies to plunge. During a panel meeting at Nvidia’s GTC conference, Huang said he was “wrong” in suggesting that quantum computers would not be useful for 15 to 30 years.

Share prices for IonQ and D-Wave suffered major drops after his first statement in January before losing more than 40% value from their stock. According to Huang, his initial comment relied on his background of constructing old-fashioned computer systems that necessitate decades to bring to life. However, he invited leaders from quantum companies like PsiQuantum and D-Wave to discuss why his timeline was off. “They can explain why I was wrong,” Huang said, calling the panel the “first event where a CEO invites guests to prove him wrong.” The discussion focused on challenges in quantum computing, such as fixing errors caused by the unstable nature of quantum particles. Companies argued that progress is faster than Huang assumed, with some aiming to build practical quantum systems within years, not decades.

Huang’s New Idea Call It a “Quantum Instrument” Even while apologizing, Huang questioned whether labeling these systems as “quantum computers” sets unfair expectations. He suggested calling them “quantum instruments” instead, as they solve specific scientific problems rather than handling everyday tasks like spreadsheets. Huang said quantum has "potential" weeks after negativity tanked stocks When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has stepped back from his prediction that practical quantum computing applications are decades away following comments that sent stocks spiraling in January. At Nvidia GTC’s "Quantum Day" event, Huang took a conciliatory tone to the quantum industry, comparing quantum to the GPUs made by Nvidia, noting the latter took plenty of time to make an impact. "This is the first event in history where a company CEO invites all of the guests to explain why he was wrong," Huang said, according to CNBC, while opening an event that had a... Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, has acknowledged a significant mistake regarding the expectations surrounding the development of quantum computing. During his presentation at the NVIDIA GTC conference, he chose to open up to the audience about his previous statements, admitting that his belief that quantum computing would be operational and ready within 15... The current technological landscape is dominated by advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, technologies that are generating a palpable transformation in society and the workforce.

Automation, driven by these innovations, has resulted in mass layoffs across various industries, and this trend is expected to continue. While AI and robotics are frequent topics of conversation, quantum computing emerges as a complementary technology that major tech corporations are eager to dominate. This form of computing is based on principles of quantum physics, such as superposition and entanglement, allowing it to solve problems that a conventional computer would take years to process, in mere seconds or... Despite advancements in quantum computing over the past few years, this technology remains distant for the average user, who is more aware of developments in AI and robotics. Tech companies are investing significantly in making quantum computing a tangible reality in the future, although it is anticipated that it will take at least a decade or more. Huang, who has been the CEO of NVIDIA for over 30 years, is a respected figure in the tech industry.

The company is known for its graphics cards but has emerged in recent years as the leading supplier of AI chips. Huang's words carry considerable weight, and his comments can significantly impact the market and expectations surrounding companies dedicated to quantum computing.

Jensen Huang Admits Mistake Says I Was Wrong About Quantum Computing

People Also Search

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang On Thursday Walked Back Comments He

He Said It Took Over 20 Years For Nvidia To

“The Reason He’s Wrong Is That We At D-Wave Are

He Added That “quantum Computing Has The Potential And All

In Classic Zuck Style, Mark Zuckerberg Echoed His Sentiments, While