In 2019, Google announced quantum supremacy: their Sycamore processor solved a problem in 200 seconds that would have taken a supercomputer 10,000 years. This was the moment when quantum computing ceased to be science fiction and became a new stage in technological evolution.
A classical bit is either 0 or 1. A quantum bit (qubit) is a superposition: it can be 0, 1, or both simultaneously. And entanglement allows qubits to be linked so that the state of one instantly influences another – even over a distance. This violates classical logic but follows the laws of quantum physics.
Why is this important? Because some problems cannot be solved classically. For example, modeling molecules for drugs, optimizing logistics, breaking encryption. A quantum computer is not “faster.” It thinks differently.
Today, qubits are created from superconducting circuits (Google, IBM), ions (IonQ), and photons (Xanadu). But they are fragile: any interaction with the outside world destroys their state. Therefore, they are cooled to -273°C—closer to absolute zero than space.
IBM plans to create a 1000-qubit processor by 2026. But quantity isn’t everything. Quality (low error rate) is key. For now, quantum computers are needed for hybrid solutions: classical and quantum.
