Political Pause: Let's Talk Quantum
Taking a quick break from politics to talk about quantum computing...nothing too technical :)
⚛️ The Quantum Conversation
In December, I attended a conference on quantum literacy at Georgia Institute of Technology. The admittedly sparse room was teeming with professors, students, and researchers. While certain policy professionals called in to join the conversation, there was a noticeable lack of industry (private sector) representation.
I’ve asked others why industry was missing from the conference—and, frankly, has been missing from the broader conversation. Everyone seems to arrive at the same conclusion: yes, they are no longer deterred from quantum; in fact, they are interested but have yet to really garner a comprehensive understanding of its usefulness.
This is not to patronize industry—frankly, in the United States, only a select few understand quantum technology—myself not included, as I'm still learning. So few understand that filling quantum-related jobs has become exceedingly difficult, delaying U.S. progress in the inevitable global arms race to unlock the technology. To propel the United States forward, states, cities, and research institutions have begun brainstorming ways to develop a “quantum-ready” workforce.
To prevent further education gaps, these learning tools are being offered across the board at low or no cost to anyone interested. You might assume the key audience is existing students, and that would be partially correct. But the rest of the audience includes people in mid-career transitions, individuals with adept mechanical skills (e.g., electricians, plumbers), those already in STEM-related fields, and anyone simply curious to learn more.
At the current moment, the philosophy of the quantum world is that we’re all learning, and there’s space for everyone. FYI ;)
⚛️ So What Is Quantum and Why Use It?
I find quantum entanglement, quantum superposition, and other principles absolutely fascinating, but, like I said, I’m not the person to teach you the technical skills (yet 😉). And unless you want to help develop the technology, you probably won’t need to know more than the basics, if even that.
What I do want to highlight is a practical use case for quantum that gives us a better idea of the technological revolutions possible with quantum computing, as discussed later below.
⚛️ The State of Quantum
Currently, the trickiest thing about quantum computing is that it doesn’t yet exist to its full potential. Different types of quantum technology are further along—for example, quantum sensing, which enhances measurement precision, is used in many applications, such as helping your car accurately report the temperature outside. But the technology that countries are investing heavily in is quantum computing.
Quantum computing will allow for the condensing and optimization of large data sets across various disciplines. It can handle massive data sets with ease—something classical computing (what we currently use) cannot maintain. Not only can it handle these data sets, but it can analyze and problem-solve in a matter of minutes, whereas certain data problems might take classical computing years to resolve. It all rests on solving a quantum algorithm. Countries are racing to be the first to solve one.
We’re all about duality here at Smartt Takes, so it’s important to note: because quantum computing is so good at solving problems, it is also exceptionally good at decrypting data. All of our protected passwords and encryption systems—two-factor authentication, multi-factor authentication—will become obsolete if quantum decrypts them first.
Part of the race toward quantum is to ensure that adversaries don’t solve the algorithm before we do.
No one knows when quantum algorithms will be solved. Some project 2-5 years, while others estimate 2035. But the AI boom caught many off guard—no one anticipated how quickly ChatGPT would become commercially viable. People aren’t wanting to be caught flat-footed by quantum.
Everyone in this sector is just waiting for quantum to have its “ChatGPT moment.”
For now, however, the conversations are largely still taking place within research institutions or quantum-specific startups. Policymakers are certainly starting to take hold of quantum, with states leading efforts to establish quantum hubs, but the discussions remain in flux.
🧪Practical Use Case
In the meantime, research institutions have taken the helm—either by establishing quantum computers, exploring how current AI technology can accelerate quantum, or applying it to real-world problems.
Here’s the example that really helped me think about quantum more practically than theoretically:
🥼 Health Care and Life Sciences (Example)
At this moment, one of the nation’s most reputable research institutions is partnering with an industry tech giant to use a quantum computer in order to bring prescription drugs to market earlier.
How are they doing it?
It’s magic in the form of science.
Essentially, one of the key barriers to bringing a drug to market is the clinical trial process. To gain FDA approval, drugs must first pass laboratory tests, subsequently test the drug on animals, and finally undergo several phases of human clinical trials to test for safety, efficacy, and side effects. Overall, the time from inception to approval can range from 10-20 years.
These research partners are bypassing much of this timeline by developing digital twins—simulated prototypes that combine electronic medical records (EMR), genome sequencing, and environmental factors to create virtual biomarkers for diverse groups of humans consenting to participate in drug trials.
Essentially, these digital twins allow scientists to test a drug on virtual humans and understand their effectiveness, as well as what changes need to be made, before testing them on the actual human participants. It thus de-risks the clinical trial process and allows researchers to bypass years of steps completed in a standard drug trial — forgoing lab and animal tests overall.
Just how effective are these digital twins? Researchers have found these simulations to be 90-95% accurate in predicting real-world outcomes.
simulated versus observed drug trials (accuracy)
Where Quantum Fits In
Right now, scientists can simulate digital twins for the experimental group using the strength of classical computing, and quantum technology in its infancy. But, with the full power of quantum computing harnessed, they'd be able to simulate digital twins for massive-scale datasets of participants in mere minutes—something classical computing would take years to achieve.
Not only could this vastly accelerate the drug development process, but it could lead to massive cost savings, more affordable medications, and better health outcomes for consumers. On an individual level, quantum computing could also pave the way for personalized care. Instead of going through a lengthy trial-and-error process with your doctor in order to find the correct medication, you could receive the right treatment immediately—or learn that no medication is needed at all, and receive a specific, lifestyle change tailored to you to remedy the problem.
The possibilities are endless. And this is just in the health care space. Physicists are also discovering ways quantum computing can optimize certain processes (e.g., financial modeling, weather forecasting, etcetera).
⚛️ Quantum’s Challenges
Of course, quantum has its own hurdles, the clearest being cybersecurity as discussed above. When the key algorithm is solved, our current encryption systems will, for all intents and purposes, become obsolete. This isn’t meant to scare you. In fact, I suspect that cybersecurity will catch up, using quantum mechanics tools like quantum cryptography to securitize and keep our information safe. Rather, it emphasizes the importance of staying ahead of the curve.
Quantum technology must be better understood. The United States should continue researching, developing, and allocating resources to quantum literacy and workforce development.
Before, not after, quantum has its “ChatGPT moment.”
⚛️ Looking Ahead
I hope you found this interesting — to me the life sciences example feels like a clear cut way to begin grasping the power of quantum. From what I’ve read, learned, and heard at the conference and beyond, I believe quantum computing, and quantum mechanics overall, will have a profound impact on how we see and interact with the world, as well as shape the next technological revolution.
In the meantime, the quantum race is on, and I look forward to talking more about it in the near future, as I become more well-versed :)
Finally, if you want to learn more, here are a few resources I recommend:
IBM: What is Quantum Computing? (READ)
McKinsey: Quantum Computing Use Cases: What You Need to Know (READ)
Also, there are so many free resources online to get well-versed in quantum physics (e.g., D-Wave (training)
Thanks for being here, and, if any quantum experts, quantum-adjacent, or just quantum-interested folks are reading this, plz reach out and share any other resources or information that may be useful. This one's a learning journey. :)
Cheers,
Lesley
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