Think Quantum Computing Will Be The Next Big Thing These Are The Aol

Quantum computing’s potential to transform industries like cryptography and drug discovery is driving a projected $850 billion market by 2040, reshaping the technological landscape. Both nimble startups and well-funded tech giants are competing fiercely, but two companies stand out as the likely leaders in this high-stakes race. Nvidia made early investors rich, but there is a new class of ‘Next Nvidia Stocks’ that could be even better. Click here to learn more. Quantum computing, poised to revolutionize industries from cryptography to drug discovery, leverages quantum mechanics to solve complex problems exponentially faster than classical computers. With a projected market size of $850 billion by 2040, its potential to reshape markets is immense.

Companies of all sizes are racing to unlock this technology’s power, from nimble startups to tech titans with vast resources. The competition is fierce, with each player bringing unique strengths to the table. Governments and tech companies continue to pour money into quantum technology in the hopes of building a supercomputer that can work at speeds we can't yet fathom to solve big problems. Imagine a computer that could solve incredibly complex problems at a speed we can't yet fathom and bring about breakthroughs in fields like drug development or clean energy. That is widely considered the promise of quantum computing. In 2025, tech companies poured money into this field.

The Trump administration also named quantum computing as a priority. But when will this technology actually deliver something useful for regular people? NPR's Katia Riddle reports on the difference between quantum hype and quantum reality. KATIA RIDDLE, BYLINE: Tech companies like Google and Microsoft, as well as the U.S. government, bet big on quantum computing in 2025. UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: Google Quantum AI is unveiling the first demonstration of verifiable quantum advantage.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Joining forces on quantum computing. The promise of quantum computers appears to be that they will upend modern computing as we know it. With exceptional computational power, they’ll be performing feats unimaginable for any classical supercomputer. The reality of quantum computers hasn’t quite lived up to its hype, however. Claims of “quantum advantage”—problems regular computers can’t solve but quantum computers can—draw criticism from both skeptics and enthusiasts in the field. Certainly, we’ve seen genuinely impressive advancements, both theoretical and experimental, but many have been contrived “feats” with little real-world applicability.

When Will Quantum Computers Outperform Regular Computers? I’m inching toward becoming an enthusiast. But even for me, parsing through the—let’s face it—sometimes overhyped noise feels tiresome and pointless. So let’s take a step back. What will quantum technology really do for us? How far have we come?

And how should we handle the flow of PR on the sixth so-called ultimate quantum breakthrough of the week? To discuss these questions (or rather, to sift through the noise), Gizmodo traveled uptown to IBM’s Manhattan office to chat with Jerry Chow, director of IBM Quantum. The following conversation has been slightly edited for grammar and clarity. Gayoung Lee, Gizmodo: Okay, imagine I’m someone who is just like, “Oh, quantum computing is a load of nonsense.” Why should I care at all about quantum advantage? At the Q2B Silicon Valley conference, scientific and business leaders of the quantum computing industry hailed "spectacular" progress being made towards practical devices – but said that challenges remain Practical quantum computers are moving closer to reality

Fully practical quantum computers haven’t arrived yet, but the quantum computing industry is ending the year on an optimistic note. At the Q2B Silicon Valley conference in December, which brings together quantum business and science experts, the consensus seemed to be that the future of quantum computing is only getting brighter. “On balance, we think it is more likely than not that someone, or maybe multiple someones, are going to be able to make a really industrially useful quantum computer, which is not something I... The goal of QBI is to determine which of the several currently competing approaches for building quantum computers can produce a useful device, which would also have to correct its own errors, or be... The programme will run for several years and involve hundreds of expert evaluators. Taking stock of the programme after its first six months, Altepeter said the team identified “huge obstacles” in the way of each of the approaches, but he also expressed surprise that this didn’t disqualify...

New machines will use individual atoms as qubits The goal of the quantum-computing industry is to build a powerful, functional machine capable of solving large-scale problems in science and industry that classical computing can’t solve. We won’t get there in 2026. In fact, scientists have been working toward that goal since at least the 1980s, and it has proved difficult, to say the least. “If someone says quantum computers are commercially useful today, I say I want to have what they’re having,” said Yuval Boger, chief commercial officer of the quantum-computing startup QuEra, on stage at the Q+AI... This article is part of our special report Top Tech 2026.

Because the goal is so lofty, tracking its progress has also been difficult. To help chart a course toward truly transformative quantum technology and mark milestones along the path, the team at Microsoft Quantum has come up with a new framework.

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