Quantum computing: From tech jargon to business applications

It's easy to get bogged down in the technical details of how quantum computing works, but when I was catching up with Jeremy O'Brien, the CEO of PsiQuantum last week, he reminded me of something: most people don't know how regular computers work either. In fact, most people don't even know how their cars work. They just know what they can do for us. And I feel like that's where the conversation is going with quantum too. Last week at the Global Quantum Forum in Chicago, I was surprised by how much the conversation was dominated by real business applications. Companies like Allstate, Moderna and Comcast are really starting to look at what it can do for their businesses. So how will quantum change the world? Faster internet, more effective medicine with fewer side effects, better insurance pricing are a few areas being looked at. Of course, it also comes with some big encryption risks, and that's a huge area of focus for companies as well. “Quantum today is kind of where GPUs were in 2012,” IBM CEO Arvind Krishna told me. “In 2012, nobody was counting on GPUs as a big business. But I think it’s going to go faster.” Reporter's note: This is one of the first quantum stories I've written that doesn't include words like qubits and superentanglement. Don't get me wrong - we will still do that coverage. But to me, it is a sign to me that quantum is moving beyond the lab into the boardroom. What do you think? Is quantum on your radar? Is it worth investing in now? What applications are you excited about? Fearful of? Let me know in the comments. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eTdxy_7M