You’ve probably seen a whole bunch of stuff in your feeds on Quantum Computing. If you’re like most of us, you don’t know what that means. Allow us to help…
While most people who have heard of it think that Quantum is an upgrade, primarily in terms of speed, over classical computers – they’re right and wrong simultaneously (remember this – you just had your first exposure to the concept of superposition).
Quantum computing isn’t just faster computing —it’s a complete shift in how we process information.
Traditional computers, a category that includes every computing device you have ever used, including whatever you are using right now, rely on bits (0s and 1s). Quantum computers use qubits, which don’t play by those rules. Thanks to superposition and entanglement, qubits can be 0 and 1 simultaneously.
Up above, when we said you’re right and wrong at the same time – same thing. Until you are measured, you are both a 0 and a 1. Further, qubits can be instantly connected across vast distances.
While we will spend some time in a separate post on what those things mean and their implications, the thing to grab on to now is that quantum computers can explore multiple possibilities at once instead of processing things step by step, unlocking speeds that make today’s supercomputers look primitive and tackling problems that traditional computers cannot touch.
Here’s a quick, super high-level view of the differences between Classical and Quantum:
Quantum vs. Classical Computing: Key Differences
| Feature | Classical Computing (PCs, Consoles) | Quantum Computing |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Unit | Bit (0 or 1) | Qubit (0, 1, or both at the same time) |
| Processing Approach | Step-by-step execution | Parallel possibilities at once |
| Key Phenomena | Binary logic | Superposition, Entanglement, Quantum Interference |
| Problem Solving | Solves problems sequentially | Evaluates many possibilities simultaneously |
Quick note – in the table you’ll see a reference to Quantum Interference. We’re going to talk about that in a subsequent piece but wanted to call attention to it because, as with many Quantum concepts, interference doesn’t mean what you think. We generally think of interference as bad. In Quantum it is bad…except when it’s good. Sometimes it’s both.
We’re going to stop here so we don’t cause your head to explode. However, we’re going to get you to the punch line right away.
We’ve recently launched our Emerging Tech MESS Index. Read More about the MESS Index here. As a refresher, the acronym MESS stands for Monitor, Explore, Start, Scale.
Quantum is very much in the Monitor phase – unless you are a very large company with very large budgets, you are not going to be jumping on Quantum right away. HOWEVER, the amount of investment that is shifting toward Quantum is growing and, much like Generative AI, the technology is likely to hit an inflection point where it goes from being futuristic to right here, right now with little warning.
Stay tuned for our next installment in this four-part series, where we explore three core concepts that help you understand what Quantum is and why you should care about it. From there we’ll dive into who’s using it now, how, and what kinds of results we’re seeing.
Follow Cortico-X on LinkedIn for more insights on cutting-edge technology, and stay tuned for the next installment in this series.
Rik Reppe
leads the Cortico-X Innovation Practice, where he oversees efforts to disrupt the status quo and drive transformative change by breaking traditional molds to envision and create the future.
