Quantum Computing: What It Is and 7 Ways It Helps Businesses

Data science has already completely changed our way of doing and understanding marketing, but the best is yet to come.

In recent years, some technology giants such as Google, Microsoft, Intel, and IBM have been working on what could be a new technological revolution: quantum computing or quantum computing. Come with me to discover what it consists of and what its applications could be in the business world.

What Is Quantum Computing Or Quantum Computing?

Quantum computing builds on knowledge of quantum mechanics (the part of physics that studies atoms and particles) to create computers that overcome the limitations of classical computing and perform much more complex calculations.

In particular, quantum computing applies two principles of quantum physics: superposition of states and entanglement. Superposition allows us to store many more possible states than with classical bits, giving rise to so-called “quantum bits” or qubits, and entanglement causes operations on a given qubit to affect the rest, saving the process of entering bitwise changes.

The result is that with quantum computing, we can operate with advanced algorithms such as quantum quenching and Shor’s algorithm. The first has many applications in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning, while the second allows the creation of encryption systems that make the current ones totally obsolete.

For now, quantum computing is not a tool suitable for personal computers but is limited to the corporate, scientific, and technological world due to its great complexity. But we already see very significant advances, and who knows if, in a few decades, we may have desktop computers or even quantum mobile devices.

Seven Applications Of Quantum Computing For Companies

Data Analysis

Quantum computing can help us solve problems on a scale that was previously unthinkable. For example, there is a field of study called “topological analysis,” whose calculations are impossible to do with current computers due to the data set it uses. In contrast, with quantum computing, these calculations are relatively straightforward.

NASA is already beginning to consider applying quantum computing to analyze the enormous amount of data they collect about the universe and to improve space travel. And this is just the beginning.

Predictions

Making predictions of different scenarios requires using large and complex data sets. For example, weather simulations using traditional computing methods have limits on the amount of data they can handle. If you put too much data into the system, the simulation takes longer to run than it takes to switch.

Properly forecasting the weather can have a huge economic impact on businesses, with an estimated 30% of US GDP being weather-sensitive in one way or another. And of course, quantum computing can be applied to all kinds of predictions, not just weather forecasts, which opens up a wide field of opportunities for companies.

Cryptographic Encryption

Advanced cryptography is one of the main application areas of quantum computing. Today’s computers are not capable of cracking encryption systems that use large prime factorizations. Instead, with quantum computing, these kinds of calculations become simpler, allowing us to both protect our digital assets more efficiently and crack traditional cryptography much faster.

Pattern Recognition

Recognizing patterns in data is extremely useful, as it allows us to more easily predict when they will repeat themselves in the future.

An example of a practical application for companies is predicting traffic in advance. Traffic is a very complex system, so it is beyond the reach of modern computers. But some companies like Volkswagen are already looking at how they can use quantum computing to inform drivers of traffic conditions up to 45 minutes in advance.

Autonomous Cars

And speaking of traffic, another very promising application of quantum computing is autonomous cars, which will improve people’s quality of life and reduce pollution and traffic jams, among many other benefits.

There are already several companies that are developing this technology, such as Tesla, Google, and Volkswagen. Quantum computing will help them develop battery technology, transportation, and autonomous driving. In fact, Volkswagen has already managed to optimize the traffic flow of 10,000 taxis in Beijing.

Aviation

Routes and aircraft scheduling is other examples of a complex system. Optimizing it with the help of quantum computing would allow much more sophisticated modeling and would have great benefits in both time and cost savings.

Large aviation companies, such as Airbus and Lockheed Martin, are already researching and investing in quantum computing to take advantage of the optimization potential of this technology

Medical Research

Last but not least, we have a sector that has become more important than ever after the Covid-19 pandemic: medical research.

The human body is an extremely complex system. If we take into account the billions of possibilities for a drug to interact with our body and the billions of different people that can be given that drug, we see that the calculations can quickly become overwhelming.

Today, pharmaceutical companies take years and billions of dollars to design new drugs and bring them to market. If we can improve this process with quantum computing, we can save huge costs and time, discover new applications for existing drugs, and empower experts to discover faster cures for diseases, which could save and improve millions of lives.