The Quantum Era Is Upon Us - Forbes

InnovationAI The Quantum Era Is Upon Us ByChuck Brooks, Contributor. Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Global Thought Leader in Cybersecurity and Emerging Tech Follow Author Mar 16, 2026, 04:45pm EDT 0 --:-- / --:-- This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more. This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more. Abstract Quantum Computing - 3d rendered image of Quantum Computing and Technology. getty Quantum technologies have transitioned from theoretical physics to practical application more swiftly than many expected. Quantum computers represent a paradigm shift in computation. Quantum computing is becoming increasingly feasible, thanks to recent advancements that make it simpler to build and more effective at scaling. We are now in the Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) period, although a pivotal moment is swiftly coming. Quantum computing, sensing, encryption, and networking are set to provide exponential computational capabilities while concurrently disrupting cybersecurity frameworks. Quantum computing will empower computers to analyze vast amounts of data and perform calculations at unprecedented speeds. It will only take a few seconds to download libraries. In the following years, quantum technology will integrate with AI, 5G, IoT, and space technologies to address large-scale societal issues, create trillions in economic value, and need a comprehensive reassessment of digital security measures. PROMOTED The Present Condition: Transitioning from Laboratory to Initial Commercial Viability Quantum systems operate on the principles of superposition and entanglement, utilizing qubits that can represent multiple states simultaneously, as opposed to the binary 0s and 1s of traditional computing. This allows them to address issues that are insurmountable for even the most advanced supercomputers. Recently, significant entities have shown notable advancements: Google’s Willow processor does computations in less than five minutes that would take the Frontier supercomputer 10 septillion years. IBM's Quantum System Two and 156-qubit processors operate 50 times more rapidly than previous versions. D-Wave’s Advantage2™ has over 4,400 qubits, achieving optimization, AI, and materials science solutions up to 25,000 times more rapidly with fivefold improved outcomes. MORE FOR YOU Quantinuum's trapped-ion technologies attain a two-qubit gate fidelity of 99.9%. Microsoft’s Majorana 1 processor, Intel's silicon spin qubits, IonQ's ytterbium-based trapped-ion technology, Rigetti's hybrid "Forest" platform, and Quantum Computing Inc.'s room-temperature photonic chips all work together to improve different types of scalable systems. Hybrid systems are now functional. Japan’s Reimei, a 20-qubit quantum supercomputer that works with the Fugaku classical system using Quantinuum architecture, shows a practical step forward. Public-private ecosystems are evolving via entities such as the Chicago Quantum Exchange (testbeds for quantum security), the Quantum Strategy Institute, the Quantum Security Alliance, and IEEE Quantum. Abstract 3d render of a silicon chip with photonic interconnect. getty Photonic Quantum Computing: Present and Expanding Commercially Quantum Computing Inc. (QCI, Nasdaq: QUBT) provides a significant demonstration that photonic quantum computing has reached a practical and deployable stage. QCI has developed room-temperature, low-power photonic quantum systems that circumvent the cryogenic demands that hinder several other designs, therefore enhancing their accessibility, affordability, and compatibility with current infrastructure. QCI has implemented reservoir computing capabilities inside a photonic framework, enabling sophisticated artificial intelligence and high-performance computing applications. QCI is vertically integrating its platform for the design, production, and systems of photonic chips. QCI demonstrates the efficacy of photonic methods in providing scalable and practical quantum capabilities, hence facilitating widespread adoption across several sectors. Quantum Computing - Quantum Supremacy - Supercomputers and Supercomputing - Innovation in Information and Computer Science getty Recent advancements are hastening the timeline, with transformative consequences throughout sectors and society. McKinsey projects that quantum technologies may generate as much as $2 trillion in economic value by 2035. McKinsey estimate of up to $2 trillion in value from quantum technologies by 2035: https://www.cfodive.com/news/quantum-advantage-boost-businesses-2t-2035-mckinsey-IT-technology-computing-tech/714489 The influence will include healthcare (genetic sequencing, drug development), finance (portfolio optimization), energy (fusion modeling), materials science, logistics, space exploration, and the Metaverse. Quantum sensing now improves MRI, navigation, and anomaly detection, while quantum key distribution (QKD) offers ultra-secure communication. Convergence is the central theme: AI enhances quantum algorithm optimization, while quantum computing supplies the essential power for AI’s further advancement. Quantum technologies will inevitably be combined with artificial intelligence. The implications of that convergence will be transformational Black keyboard with the word POST QUANTUM CRYPTOGRAPHY on a wooden background. getty The Cybersecurity Imperative: Quantum Day Approaches More Rapidly Than Many Acknowledge The most pressing imminent threat is “Q-Day”—the point at which scalable quantum computers using Shor’s algorithm would undermine public-key encryption (RSA-2048, ECC, Diffie-Hellman). Traditional systems may take billions of years to complete a process, but quantum computers can do it in just a few minutes. Nation-states now participate in "harvest now, decrypt later" initiatives, accumulating encrypted data for future decryption. The urgency of a Q-Day, or Quantum Apocalypse, was the subject of a lecture of mine for The Economist conference, “A Look into Commercializing Quantum 2022 in London." There is little doubt that quantum computers will be able to perform faster and more precise computations than classical computers and could pose geo-military threats if in the wrong hands. And that the same computing power that allows complex problems to be solved can, in turn, be applied to undermine cybersecurity. This is because current cybersecurity protocols typically use pseudo-random numbers to encrypt sensitive information, such as passwords and personal data, and quantum computers can crack the methods traditional computers use to generate random numbers, posing a significant threat to any organization using standard encryption tools. Chuck Brooks on quantum computing Economist Unprepared enterprises face existential threats: compromised intellectual property, financial thefts, power outages, and breached national security archives. Theoretically, quantum computing techniques will be so capable that they could break almost any encryption now in use. The June 2025 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office and NIST’s initiative for post-quantum cryptography (PQC) standards demonstrate the importance of intervention. A limited minority of organizations has quantum-readiness strategies, notwithstanding the OMB and NSM-10 directives requiring government transition by 2030. Quantum-resilient infrastructure is swiftly emerging as a compliance and competitive need. Actions Required by Organizations and Governments at Present Preparation is vital and cannot be postponed. 1. Catalog cryptographic assets and transition to hybrid post-quantum cryptography systems using NIST-sanctioned algorithms (lattice-based, hash-based, or code-based). 2. Implement quantum-enhanced protections, including Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) for secure communications and quantum sensing for anomaly detection. 3. Allocate resources towards workforce development and public-private collaborations via the National Quantum Initiative, Chicago Quantum Exchange, and industry coalitions. 4. Implement proactive frameworks—Security by Design, Zero Trust, and Defense in Depth—and include quantum risk into board-level governance. 5. Facilitate ecosystem development via testbeds, standards (IEEE Quantum, Quantum Security Alliance), and ethical frameworks for dual-use technologies. A stunning digital art piece representing a spiraling time vortex y getty The ecosystem now encompasses academics, business, and government. The renewal of the U.S. National Quantum Initiative and the FY27 government research goals clearly link quantum technology with artificial intelligence as key areas for investment. Quantum represents a continuous evolution of capabilities that will transform computing, security, and human advancement. The advancements achieved in 2025–2026, such as scalable logical qubits, clear benefits of quantum computing, improvements in error correction, and commercial photonic systems, demonstrate that we have reached a significant milestone. The $2 trillion potential, the Q-Day danger, and the convergence with AI and other coming technologies need prompt, deliberate intervention. Specifically, quantum technologies will influence optimization of computing power, computing models, network latency, interoperability, artificial intelligence (human/computer interface), real-time analytics and predictive analytics, increased storage and data memory power, secure cloud computing, virtualization, and the emerging 5G telecommunications infrastructure. Brian Lenahan, founder of the Quantum Strategy Institute and author of Quantum Boost and Quantum Excellence, characterizes the current era as the “Quantum Frontier Era”—a transitional stage marked by validated prototypes, specialized applications, and prudent early adoption. He emphasizes that there must be strategic planning rather than mere excitement: “The pioneers who act now will influence industries.” Although fault-tolerant systems are still many years from realization, he highlights significant advancements in sensing, optimization, and hybrid platforms. Lenahan advocates for enterprises to develop quantum roadmaps, evaluate use cases, tackle skill shortages and integration expenses, and ready themselves for post-quantum cryptography. See Brian Lenahan on the “Quantum Frontier Era”: https://brianlenahan.substack.com/p/the-quantum-frontier-era His perspective is both realistic and optimistic: quantum technology will provide faster and more secure computing, while achieving success requires converting promise into tangible commercial results. Organizations that invest in preparation now—by transitioning to post-quantum cryptography, enhancing worker skills, and fostering collaborative innovation—will dominate in the future. Those who hesitate risk digital disaster at a time when qubits will determine competitive advantage, national security, and economic sovereignty. The future belongs to those who act now. The quantum era is upon us. Quantum Applications Chuck Brooks • Forbes article on quantum arrival and preparation: https://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckbrooks/2025/02/22/quantum-computing-has-arrived-we-need-to-prepare-for-its-impact • Forbes on Q-Day and quantum-resistant encryption: https://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckbrooks/2026/02/16/q-day-catastrophic-for-businesses-ignoring-quantum-resistant-encryption • Forbes on AI, quantum, and space redefining cybersecurity: https://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckbrooks/2026/01/19/how-ai-and-quantum-and-space-are-redefining-cybersecurity • Forbes on the coming inflection point for quantum: https://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckbrooks/2025/08/29/the-coming-inflection-point-for-quantum-technology • HSToday.us on recalibrating cybersecurity frameworks for AI and quantum threats (including Q-Day discussion): https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/cybersecurity/why-cybersecurity-strategies-and-frameworks-must-be-recalibrated-in-the-age-of-ai-and-quantum-threats • GovCon Wire on federal tech innovation with AI & quantum at the core (2026): https://www.govconwire.com/articles/chuck-brooks-govcon-expert-ai-quantum-tech-innovation Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions Find Chuck Brooks on LinkedIn and X. 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