Quantum computing shows promise, fragility as tech world eyes next frontier

Bengaluru: The race to define the world’s next great technology frontier has multiple contenders — from artificial general intelligence and programmable biology to sustainable energy, metamaterials, human-machine interfaces, and quantum computing. Experts say the future could be more wondrous and harder to predict as these technologies begin to work together. But there is still a long way to go, and quantum computing has recently shown why.

Quantum computers promise to solve calculations significantly faster than today’s traditional computers. The challenge: these machines are extremely fragile. They operate at temperatures colder than outer space, and the slightest vibration or heat can cause them to stop working.

While breakthroughs continue, researchers caution that stable, large-scale quantum systems remain years away. The path to practical quantum computing will depend on solving core engineering hurdles in stability, error correction, and scalability.