Quantum breakthrough could be just years away

Most quantum professionals believe that quantum utility — the point at which quantum computers outperform classical machines in solving real-world problems — could be reached within the next decade.

According to a new survey by Economist Impact, 83% of global experts expect quantum utility to arrive in ten years or less, with one-third predicting it will happen in as little as one to five years.

Optimism aligns with some industry roadmaps, such as Finnish startup IQM, which is targeting quantum utility as early as next year.

However, there’s still little consensus on the timeline. While Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai recently suggested practically useful quantum computers could be five to ten years away, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang believes it may take at least 15 years — a remark that briefly shook confidence in quantum stocks.

Industry confusion over terms like ‘quantum utility,’ ‘advantage,’ and ‘supremacy’ only adds to the uncertainty, highlighting the need for clearer communication and better public understanding.

Despite the buzz, major challenges remain. Over 80% of professionals cite technical barriers, especially error correction, as a major hurdle.

A further 75% point to a lack of skilled talent in the field. While misconceptions about quantum computing are seen as slowing progress, the real bottlenecks lie in engineering and workforce development.

If these can be overcome, quantum computing could revolutionise sectors from pharmaceuticals and materials science to finance and cybersecurity — with profound implications, both promising and perilous.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.