Council Post: 8 Important Industry Functions Quantum Computing Could Soon Revolutionize

From AI to 5G, tech that once seemed as if it belonged in the realm of science fiction is starting to impact our everyday lives. The next sci-fi crossover may well be quantum computers. 

Headlines on the accomplishments of supercomputers have popped up regularly in the past decade or so, with stories touting their help with issues ranging from predicting climate change and mapping the human bloodstream to defeating Jeopardy! champions. Through the use of multidimensional representation, quantum computers leave supercomputers in the dust. In 2019, Google’s quantum computer, Sycamore, took 200 seconds to perform a mathematical computation that would have taken IBM’s Summit supercomputer 10,000 years. That makes Sycamore about 158 million times faster than Summit. 

The rise of quantum computing is an exciting development that could impact multiple facets of human life. So what might business and industry do with this technology? Below, eight experts from Forbes Technology Council share ways they foresee quantum computing revolutionizing the way companies operate.

1. Utilities Management

The supercomputing of the future is set to make disruptive changes in the energy and utility industry. From the quantum grid to cybersecurity, load pattern monitoring, leakage detection, and customer and workforce analytics, the technology will change the way billions of people consume energy and water and how utilities manage these precious resources. I’m very excited to watch these factors at play. – Deepak Garg, Smart Energy Water

2. Advertising

Quantum computing will help companies leverage extremely large datasets, optimize bidding strategies for advertisements, and drastically improve machine learning and artificial intelligence. All this will improve real-time marketing strategies and allow advertisers to offer a level of ad personalization that’s unthinkable with traditional computing technologies. – David Finkelstein, BDEX


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3. Healthcare Research

Quantum computing will enable real-time healthcare research. Future research will be powered by new types of simulations that bring together many types of data not previously combined before, including sensors, images, genomics and real-world outcomes. All of this data will be updated continuously and dynamically. We will see the acceleration of drug discovery, proactive and predictive population health management, and truly personalized medicine (“N of 1”). – Jennifer Esposito, Magic Leap

4. Supply Chain Management

It’s likely that the first way quantum computing will impact operations is in the supply chain. If Covid-19 showed us anything, it is that global supply chains are complicated and tenuous. Quantum computing will allow companies to maintain supply chains with fewer disruptions. – Kevin Parikh, Avasant

5. Pharmaceutical Development  

Quantum computing operates on nonbinary principles that better resemble nature. Quantum computers could theoretically be faster at designing personalized drugs for a person with a given genome, age and environment. The permutations in this natural problem are large enough to require a new processing paradigm. – Joe Rubinsztain, ChronWell, Inc.

6. Autonomous Travel

Quantum computing is positioned to have a monumental effect on business, government and the individual lives of everyone in society today. From enabling intergalactic space flight to driving AI-powered autonomous vehicles, unbelievably fast computing capabilities paired with the ability to drive outcomes based on incredibly large data sets will be the differentiator for quantum computing. – Marc Fischer, Dogtown Media LLC

7. Data Analysis

Quantum computing will significantly change the big data analysis process. Quantum computers can interpret and analyze voluminous data sets and perform data analytics at a more granular level than predictive machine learning algorithms can offer. Significantly, this will enable companies to generate useful insights for quick decision-making. – Roman Taranov, Ruby Labs

8. Fraud Detection

The second quantum computing revolution is here, but we’re still far from fully aware of what this tech can do. The awesome computing power of quantum devices can take optimizations, random checks and machine learning to new levels. In finance and cybersecurity, this means less risk and more muscle to detect fraud. Across industries, it means greater efficiency in examining patients, managing supply chains and more! – Robert Strzelecki, TenderHut