The world has been paying close attention to the global contest for supremacy in artificial intelligence. But the separate race for quantum technology could have an even more profound impact on the geopolitical balance of power. While the US currently leads, China is narrowing the gap — fast.
Quantum technology harnesses the mind-boggling mechanics of quantum physics — the science of how particles behave at the atomic level — to build new kinds of computers, sensors and communication systems exponentially more powerful than today’s. As mathematician Hannah Fry explains, think of solving a maze: a traditional computer tries one path at a time; a quantum computer explores all the possibilities simultaneously. It has the potential to transform industries from medicine to finance and AI. McKinsey estimates that quantum technology could generate up to $97 billion in revenue by 2035.