Quantum Computing In 2025 Milestones Challenges And What Lies Ahead

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Jan 2, 2026, 6:56 PM

quantum computing in 2025 milestones challenges and what lies ahead

Quantum computing is no longer confined to research labs or the realm of science fiction. Recent announcements from Microsoft and Amazon—unveiling their quantum chips, Majorana 1 and Ocelot—signal a bold step toward making this groundbreaking technology commercially viable within this decade. These chips aim to tackle critical challenges like error correction and scalability, bringing us closer to real-world applications. Heralded as the next frontier of technological progress, quantum computing promises to solve problems beyond the reach of classical systems, from revolutionising drug discovery to optimising global supply chains. Yet, for all its potential, it remains a field filled with complexity and uncertainty. Key questions persist: How far have we come?

When will broader adoption occur? And what are the first real-world applications we can expect? This article explores these questions by examining the current state of quantum computing, recent advancements, and the challenges that lie ahead. As quantum systems move closer to practical application, they will reshape industries, redefine competitive dynamics, and create entirely new opportunities. For businesses, understanding this transformative technology is no longer optional—it’s essential. Quantum computing has come a long way since its theoretical inception in the 1980s.

What began as a conceptual framework for leveraging quantum mechanics to solve computational problems has evolved into a dynamic field of research and development. Today, we are witnessing tangible advancements in hardware, algorithms, and error correction that are bringing us closer to practical quantum systems capable of addressing real-world challenges. The journey of quantum computing began with foundational ideas from physicists like Paul Benioff and Richard Feynman, who proposed the feasibility of quantum systems for computation in the early 1980s. In 1994, Peter Shor’s development of an algorithm capable of factoring large integers sparked widespread interest, demonstrating quantum computing’s potential to disrupt cryptography. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, experimental breakthroughs, such as the first demonstrations of quantum gates and small-scale quantum computers, laid the groundwork for modern systems. Quantum computing has been one of the most exciting technologies in the world for years.In 2025, it’s no longer just a theory or a dream — it’s becoming real.Today, businesses, researchers, and governments are...

In this guide, we’ll walk you through what has happened so far, the major milestones reached in 2025, and what breakthroughs are shaping the future of quantum technology. If you’re curious about the future of computing, this is the perfect place to start! Quantum computing is a type of computing that leverages the principles of quantum mechanics to perform calculations. Unlike classical computers which use bits to represent data (0 or 1), quantum computers use qubits, which can exist in a superposition of both 0 and 1 simultaneously, and can also be entangled, allowing... Before we dive into 2025, let’s quickly understand what quantum computing is. 2025 has been a milestone year for quantum computing, marked by record-breaking experiments and technological firsts.

Researchers unveiled the first topological quantum processor – an 8-qubit device using exotic Majorana particles for inherently stable qubits Sciencedaily Sciencedaily. In another leap, D-Wave’s annealing computer solved a complex magnetic simulation in minutes – a task so complex it would take a classical supercomputer essentially millions of years Dwavequantum. “Our achievement shows we can solve problems beyond the reach of the world’s most powerful supercomputers,” said D-Wave CEO Alan Baratz of this result Dwavequantum. Late 2024 set the stage for these advances: Google debuted its 105-qubit “Willow” superconducting chip with unprecedented error-correction performance Mckinsey, and IBM crossed the 1,000-qubit milestone with its Condor processor Notebookcheck. Such achievements reflect what one report calls a shift “from development to deployment”, as quantum hardware becomes more powerful and reliable Mckinsey. Multiple quantum technologies are progressing in parallel.

The leading approach, superconducting qubits (IBM, Google, etc.), has already scaled into the hundreds of qubits on a single chip. Trapped-ion qubits (IonQ, Quantinuum) offer the highest gate fidelities – IonQ recently surpassed 99.9% two-qubit fidelity on a prototype system Quantumcomputingreport – though operations are slower. Quantum annealing (pioneered by D-Wave) uses thousands of qubits for optimization problems; D-Wave’s Advantage machine with 5,000+ qubits has shown a clear speedup for certain tasks Dwavequantum. Photonic quantum computers (PsiQuantum, Xanadu) encode qubits in photons traveling through optical circuits; a 2025 breakthrough achieved ultra-low-loss photonic chips, a key step for scaling up optical qubits Phys. Other approaches, like neutral atoms (Pasqal, QuEra) and topological qubits(Microsoft’s focus), are also making progress. This “quantum zoo” of technologies Phys indicates a healthy, multi-pronged drive toward the same goal: more qubits with less error.

Quantum computing is beginning to show real use cases across industries: Governments worldwide consider quantum technology a strategic priority and have escalated investments: Significant challenges remain on the path to large-scale quantum computing. The foremost issue is error correction: today’s qubits are highly error-prone and lose coherence quickly. Reaching fault-tolerance will require implementing quantum error-correcting codes that use many physical qubits to create one reliable logical qubit. This demands qubit counts in the thousands (or more) and error rates far below current levels.

Steady progress is being made – for instance, researchers have shown that bigger quantum error-correcting codes can suppress error rates Thequantuminsider – but truly error-corrected, long computations are not yet possible. When it comes to quantum technology (QT), investment is surging and breakthroughs are multiplying. The United Nations has designated 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, celebrating 100 years since the initial development of quantum mechanics. Our research confirms that QT is gaining widespread traction worldwide. McKinsey’s fourth annual Quantum Technology Monitor covers last year’s breakthroughs, investment trends, and emerging opportunities in this fast-evolving landscape. In 2024, the QT industry saw a shift from growing quantum bits (qubits) to stabilizing qubits—and that marks a turning point.

It signals to mission-critical industries that QT could soon become a safe and reliable component of their technology infrastructure. To that end, this year’s report provides a special deep dive into the fast-growing market of quantum communication, which could unlock the security needed for widespread QT uptake. Quantum technology encompasses three subfields: Our new research shows that the three core pillars of QT—quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum sensing—could together generate up to $97 billion in revenue worldwide by 2035. Quantum computing will capture the bulk of that revenue, growing from $4 billion in revenue in 2024 to as much as $72 billion in 2035 (see sidebar “What is quantum technology?”). While QT will affect many industries, the chemicals, life sciences, finance, and mobility industries will see the most growth.

McKinsey initiated its annual quantum technology report in 2021 to track the rapidly evolving quantum technology landscape. We analyze three principal areas of the field: quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum sensing. The analysis is based on input from various sources, including publicly available data, expert interviews, and proprietary McKinsey analyses. The conclusions and estimations have been cross-checked across market databases and validated through investor reports, press releases, and expert input. Because not all deal values are publicly disclosed and databases are updated continuously, our research does not provide a definitive or exhaustive list of start-ups, funding activities, investment splits, or patents and publications. With 2025 approaching, quantum computing stands at the edge of a major transformation.

Driving the development of scalable and fault-tolerant quantum processors, big goals and years of hard work have driven major progress. Leading companies like Microsoft, Google, and IBM are bringing new ideas that could change the future of computing. However, uncertainty remains, and many important questions are still unanswered. How close is the world to practical quantum applications? Will these innovations truly meet expectations? Here’s what’s unfolding, the breakthroughs, the debates, and how they could shape the future of quantum technology.

Microsoft has long been an underdog in the quantum computing race, but 2025 could be the year it flips the script. The company recently introduced the Majorana 1 chip, a processor built on a novel topological architecture. This isn’t just another qubit innovation; it’s a fundamental shift. At the heart of this chip are Majorana particles, exotic quantum states that help qubits stay stable and resist errors. Traditionally, qubits are notoriously unstable, requiring complex error-correction systems. Microsoft is taking a different route by building fault tolerance into the hardware itself, cutting down the need for heavy error correction.

This shift could reshape the scalability of quantum systems and push the technology forward. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella summed up the breakthrough with bold optimism: The quantum computing breakthroughs of 2025 have fundamentally altered our technological landscape. This year marked several watershed moments in quantum development, from achieving practical quantum advantage in specific domains to significant advances in error correction. As we stand at this pivotal moment, it’s crucial to understand both what we’ve accomplished and what lies ahead in this revolutionary field. Quantum computers have evolved from theoretical curiosities to practical tools capable of solving specific problems beyond the reach of classical supercomputers.

The milestones achieved this year represent not just scientific achievements but potential solutions to some of humanity’s most pressing challenges in climate science, medicine, and artificial intelligence. The quantum computing landscape has been transformed by several significant breakthroughs this year: These quantum computing breakthroughs collectively represent a tipping point where quantum technology begins to deliver on its long-promised potential. The hardware landscape has seen remarkable diversification and improvement:

Quantum Computing In 2025 Milestones Challenges And What Lies Ahead

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