Quantum Computing
Quantum computing is “the exploitation of collective
properties of quantum states, such as superposition and entanglement, to
perform computation.” Translation: It solves problems faster and more
accurately—in some cases, ones that stump even modern supercomputers.
While we shouldn’t expect the quantum PC any time
soon, we can expect quantum computers to become the backbone for the emerging
technologies listed above. These machines already exist today, and IBM has
announced plans to build a 1,000 qubit version by 2023, a milestone physicist
Jay Gambetta told Science would reflect an “inflection point.”
Adoption of this technology could make big data more
manageable. It could cut costly and complex development time through speedy
simulations and solve multivariable optimization problems with ease. Finally,
it may make currently intractable problems manageable, such as those faced in
the processing of natural language.
Quantum computing also illustrates why it’s important
that organizational leaders don’t develop tunnel vision. To focus on one
emerging technology or one model of the future is to risk your company’s
well-being. It’s not a question of which technology will dominate, but the
potentials each technology brings and how they may work together.
“The innovation that will be delivered by these technologies,
especially as I said, when they’re leveraged in tandem, will be staggering over
the next few years and will enable customer solutions that will actually have
paradigm shifting impact for those that act on them,” Mike Haines, chair of the
Emerging Technology Community’s executive council, said on the CompTIA Biz Tech
podcast.
Navigating these technological shifts will certainly
challenge business leaders for years to come. But by keeping an open mind to
the possibilities, they can chart a path that predicts dangers and capitalize
on these emerging technologies.