In today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, PR practitioners can no longer rely on traditional messaging alone—especially when representing cybersecurity and advanced technology clients. Concepts like quantum computing, once confined to academic journals, are now central to the future of digital security. To effectively position and promote companies at the forefront of innovation, agencies must up their game and offer specialized services grounded in an accurate understanding of the technologies they support. For nearly two decades, BridgeView Marketing’s PR Services have done just that—our team stands apart because we’ve been on the client side, having sold, trained on, and managed complex technology solutions. That’s the BridgeView difference.

To illustrate our fluency in these advanced topics, here’s a blog from one of our tech writers that breaks down a challenging concept—quantum computing—in simple, relatable terms. Enjoy!

——————-

By tapping into the potentials of quantum mechanics, quantum computing promises to be the next generation. Surpassing classical computing, which uses bits (either a zero or a one), quantum computing uses qubits, which can simultaneously be a 0, 1, or a combination of both (superposition). The expectation is that quantum computers will be able to perform calculations much faster than classical computers. Whereas the classical computer performs its functions linearly, the quantum computer works with multiple possibilities simultaneously, making this next generation of computers much better suited for complex simulations and optimization tasks. 

The bet is that these computers will make discoveries in physics, chemistry, and cryptography and have incredible implications for communication, sensing, imaging, and other scientific fields. They are expected to usher new drugs into the marketplace by simulating complex molecular interactions. Because they can consider numerous variables, they are expected to be invaluable tools for optimizing investment portfolios. And by cracking current encryption methods, they are expected to deliver new, more secure ones. 

Quantum v. Classical 

Quantum computers are not expected to replace classical computers. The vision is that they will work together, using specialized chips from a classical supercomputer accessed via the cloud. However, quantum computers have yet to deliver on the dream, although they have solved math puzzles faster than the best classical supercomputers. Although the dream has not been realized yet, venture capitalists are hedging their bets. In 2020, they put $1.8 billion into companies working on quantum computing hardware and software worldwide.

What’s Special About The Quantum Level?

To understand what’s happening here, let’s go down to the subatomic level where all the action is. The position of an electron is understood as a probability until you observe it. At the moment of observation, it takes a position. Before spotting an electron’s location, it is neither here nor there. It exists as a probability of anywhere. Think of flipping a quarter into the air. Before you catch it and look to see what side is up, the quarter is neither heads nor tails, but there is some probability of both. For quantum computing, this probability is captured in qubits (as opposed to bits), which are superconducting circuits or atoms levitating inside an electromagnetic field (called superposition). The qubit in a state of superposition has a probability of being a 1 or 0, yet it is neither. Like the quarter flipping in the air, it is not heads nor tails, but some probability of both.

A quantum computer uses qubits in superposition to explore multiple possible paths through a calculation. The incorrect paths are canceled, and the correct path remains. To elucidate, the quantum computer could locate you in a phone book of 100 million names with 10,000 operations. By contrast, a classical computer requires 50 million operations to find you. This means that the bigger the “phone book,” the more inept the classical computer gets compared to the quantum model when performing its functions. The problem with qubits is that they are incredibly finicky. They have to be carefully shielded at super cold temperatures—fractions of a degree above absolute zero. 

As this article’s verbiage (“expectations, bets, and dreams”) indicates, there are primarily only prototypes for quantum computers. Due to the finicky nature of the qubit, no one has yet built a reliable quantum device. This finicky nature, which makes qubits glitch, is caused by what’s known as “noise.” It is the noise that causes problems in design and implementation. In the quantum world, noise could be any fluctuation in temperature, electromagnetic waves, sound waves, or physical vibrations. Currently, one of the most significant areas of research involves developing algorithms so that a quantum computer can correct its mistakes caused by noise.

The Subatomic Race

However, the noise does not prevent the public and private sectors from betting big on quantum computing. Google, IBM, Intel, and Microsoft have all expanded their work on the technology, and startups, such as Xanadu and QuEra, are hot on their tails. 

Due to quantum computing’s ability to simulate reactions, Daimler and Volkswagen are investing in improving electric vehicle batteries. The U.S., China, and the European Union have each invested billions. The thinking is that the first country to make quantum computers useful will have a substantial economic and security advantage. 

In addition, one of the most significant potentials of using quantum computing to assist with machine learning is that it will make artificial intelligence (AI) more robust. The algorithms of quantum computers can “learn” complex tasks much quicker and use fewer examples than are typically used to train AI systems today. 

Quantum Computing –  A Dream or Reality?

• Israel just announced that they built a quantum computer. This breakthrough portends national advantages for defense and civilian applications. 
• Google’s Willow chip and Amazon’s Quantum Embark fueled a recent rally in quantum stocks, which was also boosted by a $2.7 billion government funding initiative for quantum computing. 
• Rigetti Computing is rising to the top of the leaderboard by supporting the creation of quantum computing applications. It has developed a quantum processing unit called Novera. It offers a Quantum Computing as a Service (QCaaS) platform that enables its quantum systems to be seamlessly integrated across various cloud environments. 

Google’s Willow has raised concerns about cryptographic security, especially regarding cryptocurrencies, which rely on cryptographic algorithms designed to guard against attacks. Willow currently poses no immediate threat to cryptographic systems, but due to its potential, the cryptocurrency industry has begun researching and developing quantum-resistant cryptographic systems. A quantum computer could gain access to wallets and steal funds. 

The US National Science Foundation (NSF) announced six new projects to advance quantum technologies and expand access to specialized tools and testbeds. The pilot projects will work towards improving quantum computing hardware and error correction (noise), aiming to achieve scalable systems and low-error qubit computers. Projects will also focus on quantum networking and sensing for secure communications and achieving quantum advantage in chemical property measurements. Also, quantum simulations and photonic integration will be researched, which will have real-world applications in condensed matter physics, microelectronics, and healthcare. Australia also invests in advanced quantum technologies in areas like First Nations health, biosecurity, supply chain logistics, and energy network optimization. 

Conclusion

It ain’t quite here yet, but it’s very near, and quantum computing will soon work with AI systems. The breakthrough is that quantum simulation can model the complex dynamics of matter and energy at the microscopic level. Quantum optimization can solve optimization problems across disciplines. AI will significantly improve these applications by supplementing where quantum processing falls short. With the U.S. government’s recent initiative to develop a K-12 curriculum relating to quantum computing, it’s clear that the money is on quantum computing to win big.

Even Richard Feynman, who won a Nobel Prize for his contributions to quantum theory, famously said that “nobody understands quantum mechanics.” But he set out to see whether or not subatomic particles’ probabilistic existence could be used to process information. And Feynman began working on a machine that could do just that. “I’m not happy with all the analyses that go with just the classical theory because nature isn’t classical, dammit,” he told audiences in 1981. “And if you want to make a simulation of nature, you’d better make it quantum mechanical.”

###