The quantum race is a climb toward an unknown summit

Technology · Published 29 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: We are currently obsessed with being the first to build industrial-scale quantum computers. But as physicists suggest, once we finally reach that technological peak, we might find ourselves questioning why we spent so much effort getting there in the first place.

The current global fervor surrounding quantum computing is often compared to the 20th-century race to summit Mount Everest. Theoretical physicist Peter Zoller notes that while the competition to be 'number one' drives modern development, the ultimate goal—achieving a functional industrial-scale machine—may lead to an existential question about the purpose of the achievement itself.

The theoretical foundation for these machines dates back over 30 years. In the mid-1980s, physicists Paul Benioff and Richard Feynman independently proposed that computers harnessing quantum mechanics could theoretically outperform classical systems at specific tasks. It wasn't until 1995 that Peter Zoller and Ignacio Cirac provided the first realistic blueprints for such a machine, proposing the use of trapped ions as 'qubits.' Unlike classical bits, these qubits can exist in a superposition, representing 0, 1, and every state in between simultaneously.

Today, the quest has moved from theory to hardware. Researchers are exploring various methods to create qubits, including superconducting loops, neutral atoms, and ions. Quantum computing progress is speeding up: although Atom Computing and IBM have lately showcased units featuring over 1,000 qubits, a team from the California Institute of Technology announced constructing a historic set exceeding 6,000 qubits during the previous year.

While these milestones are significant, the 'killer apps'—revolutions in cryptography, materials design, and telecommunications—remain several years away from being fully realized. The journey is as much about mastering the weirdness of the quantum realm as it is about raw processing power.

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