Quantum Computing Is Finally Here. But What Is It?

Four decades ago, computer engineers were theorizing that the mind-bending mechanics of quantum physics could be harnessed to make a new kind of computer that’s exponentially more powerful than conventional machines. A race is on to develop bigger machines that can accurately model the behavior of complex real-world phenomena and deliver a leap forward in fields as varied as drug development, financial modeling and artificial intelligence. Experimental quantum computers are typically given tasks that a conventional computer would take too long to do, such as simulating the interaction of molecules for drug discovery. Their greatest potential is for modeling complex systems involving large numbers of moving parts whose behavior changes as they interact — such as predicting the behavior of financial markets, optimizing supply chains and operating the large language models used in generative artificial intelligence.