AI is Just the Beginning—Quantum Computing is the Bigger Disruptor Ahead

While the world is busy debating the AI (artificial intelligence) technology—fearing mass employment, struggling with deepfake, marveling at ChatGPT, and trying to automate just everything—but a bigger and more powerful technology is silently brewing in the background. 

The technology that will break past the classical limits of binary computing and perform computations that even the most powerful supercomputers to date can’t handle—and at a scale previously thought impossible.

Could you guess it?

We’re talking about Quantum Computing—the transformational technology that not just accelerates AI but also gives a whole new definition of computing. By harnessing the peculiar quantum mechanisms, quantum computers can solve problems faster than supercomputers in the most complex areas, such as cryptography, with manifold outcomes at a lightning-fast speed. Quantum computing and AI are not opponents; both are meant to go hand-in-hand, or we could say that quantum computing is

Here’s an example to put its power into perspective—

In December 2024, Google announced Willow—its latest quantum chip. With a 105-qubit processor, Willow performed a computation in less than five minutes that today’s fastest supercomputer could solve in 10 septillion years. 

Sounds shocking and exciting? 

But this tremendous power comes at a cost—some hidden risks—especially in security and sustainability; Not to mention its potential to weaken authentication protocols and hack blockchain—except post-quantum blockchain technology.

This article explores how big quantum computing is, the extent of the disruption it might cause, and both negative and positive sides of the emerging technology. 

What exactly is quantum computing?

Quantum computing relies on advanced technologies (unlike AI, which uses traditional graphics processing units), such as super-cold superconductor chips, neutral atoms, and trapped ions, all of which operate in highly isolated environments to protect their processing.

In contrast to classical computing, which processes information in bits (1s or 0s) serially, quantum computers use qubits, which can process a 1 and 0 in parallel. With sufficient quantum bits (qubits), quantum computers could process high-impact problems millions of times faster than the fastest microchip computers available today.

Technology titans like IBM, Google, Microsoft, and Intel — as well as many startups — already have development roadmaps for these experimental machines. Some cloud computing giants are also already offering quantum computing-as-a-service.

However, the nascent technology has led to a new debate—Are quantum computing and AI a happy marriage or distant cousins? 

According to the efforts so far, there has been much hope that quantum computing would transform and enhance artificial intelligence, introducing new and powerful capabilities on a scale that had been impossible until now. 

Keep reading more to explore how this union may work:

Quantum Computing and AI: Convergence or Competition

At first,  quantum computing and AI appear as competing technologies to you, but when you look closer, you find them in perfect convergence. And, the portmanteau name for this convergence is Quantum AI.

AI allows machines to learn, think, and recognize patterns, while quantum computing uses quantum mechanics to accelerate. When both come together, the possibilities are endless. 

Imagine AI helps quantum computers find the most efficient ways to run complex calculations, surpassing the speed of light. Additionally, QC can leverage AI to become a superpower, handling complex problems, training models, and optimizing algorithms. Together, they can revolutionize many fields, such as drug discovery, deep space analysis, and massive data interpretation, among others.

However, AI is facing some challenges, and sustainability is one of them, which is due to the large energy requirements. Other challenges are interpretability, scalability, and computational limits. On the other hand, quantum computing is a sustainable technology with more scalability capabilities. 

So, there is no doubt that AI and quantum computing, both as a team, are more powerful. However, the combination is at an early stage of active and exploratory research. Some experts are very optimistic and expect unbelievable advantages from quantum AI. 

Now, let’s understand the level of disruption quantum computing could cause—with or without AI.

How Powerful Quantum Computing Could Be [Use Cases and Threats]

Not just AI, but quantum computing has enormous power to change the world beyond belief. Let us give you some evidence-backed examples:

Tackle climate modeling

Due to the complexity of the simulation of the forecast model, meeting computational needs was a challenge, but not anymore. Quantum computing can easily tackle climate modelling by accelerating simulations of the Earth system. 

It can solve fluid dynamics and differential equations, further facilitating model improvements and providing a clear understanding of likely future weather. 

Moreover, research suggests that quantum computers improve quantum machine learning for subgrid‑scale phenomena like turbulence and convection, reducing climate modeling errors.

Personalized medicine becomes a reality 

Personalized medicine aims to benefit treatment based on your genetic ​​makeup, lifestyle, and environment. Quantum computing has the power to process vast genetic data and identify patterns to make personalized medicine. 

But how?

Quantum computers are best at solving problems containing millions of variables, including human biology. They explore all possible genes and drug responses at the same time, which helps researchers and doctors find the best possible medicine or treatment for each patient.

The integration of this technology into medicine promises to provide revolutionary disease diagnosis, treatment development, and patient outcomes. 

Quickly design supermaterials

Earlier, designing a supermaterial that is sturdy, durable, flexible, and more conductive was a struggle. To design a super material, scientists need to understand the behaviour of atoms and electrons. This is really a complex task, and even the most powerful classic computers struggle to simulate it, which makes the entire process longer and challenging. 

However, quantum computing has changed it completely. Quantum computers understand the language of atoms and electrons. They simulate quantum interactions easily, allowing researchers to model different combinations of atoms depending on their behaviour. 

Therefore, you can now experiment with thousands of materials for batteries, air crafts, solar panels, etc., virtually before actually growing them in a lab, which saves you time and makes the process more accurate and quicker. 

Rebuild financial systems 

In the financial services industry, information is the lifeline. It means the one who can quickly and accurately analyze complex information can stand strong against competition. But, this is not possible manually or with classic supercomputers as both are prone to errors, low speed, and less data handling. This is where quantum computing enters. 

It is a technology that processes accurate financial information at a faster speed than you may have seen before. It accelerates the time to generate results, improves calculation accuracy, and identifies patterns. Best for pricing, liquidity, risk analysis, portfolio optimization, and more. All in all, it can help financial institutions make real-time decisions quickly. 

Can hack blockchain

Quantum attacks also threaten the security of blockchain technology, and the threats are not theoretical or projected. They’re real!

Attackers using quantum computing as their weapon can steal wealth and perform attacks by exploiting public key cryptography methods like RSA and ECDSA. This ultimately results in the loss of trust in blockchain networks.

The solution? Building and using post-quantum blockchain technologies that use advanced security measures to protect against threats, including quantum attacks. For example, NCOG —a sustainable and environmentally-friendly blockchain project—uses Quantum Byzantine Fault Tolerance (QBFT) to ensure blockchain integrity even against quantum threats. Additional security measures include CRYSTALS-Dilithium for digital signatures and SHA-3 for hashing, providing the blockchain resilience against quantum computing attacks.

Can break modern encryption

Quantum computers could break even the strongest current encryption in just 10 seconds. So, digital infrastructures that utilize cryptography are easily exposed to hackers. According to Gartner, quantum computing could start compromising modern encryption methods as early as 2029, with complete vulnerability by 2034.

This means organizations must move to post-quantum encryption as soon as possible; otherwise, failure could have irreversible, dangerous consequences. Post-quantum cryptography is a quantum-proof technology that can protect digital infrastructure against even the most aggressive quantum attacks.

Can decrypt sensitive details

Quantum computing capabilities haven’t fully arrived yet, and malicious actors have already started acting. The imminent arrival of the technology has caused panic due to “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks, which means hackers can steal encrypted data today and decrypt it once quantum computing capabilities reach a tipping point.

This poses an alarming threat to data with long-term sensitivity, such as financial information, fintech platforms, intellectual property, product designs, and government secrets. 

Fortunately, again, post-quantum cryptography makes a proven solution to protect your digital data—personal, corporate, or national. However, given that bad actors are already in action, it is high time to act. Post-quantum cryptographic migrations may take years to complete. So, organizations must prioritize the migration to protect their data before quantum threats become tangible risks.

All this is truly exciting—incredible computing power, lightning-fast speed, and the ability to solve complex problems in seconds with accuracy. Sounds like a sci-fi plot! However, the excitement should not overshadow the disastrous risks of quantum computing. So, now, it’s important to understand the biggest threats of quantum computers and start preparing for them right now.

Conclusion: Quantum Computing and AI

Undoubtedly, quantum computing is still in its infancy. Quantum computing and AI devices are extremely sensitive to their surroundings. They are vulnerable to decoherence errors, where interactions with the outside world cause the loss of quantum properties. This demands sophisticated error correction techniques, which add complexity and reduce the overall efficiency of the system. Furthermore, precise control over individual qubits is necessary, as even small variations can lead to significant errors in calculations. Put simply, many breakthroughs are needed before the quantum threat becomes a reality.

However, it doesn’t mean you have enough time, particularly in the light of ‘harvest now, decrypt later” attacks. As experts anticipate that the quantum timeline is highly unpredictable, these attacks may start showing visible signs sooner or later. On top of that, preparing your existing digital infrastructure for the post-quantum era may take years or even a decade. So, now is the right time to act.

Taking action right away will enable adequate planning and a seamless transition. The likelihood of implementation errors, which can have an undesirable effect, increases if we are slow to respond and rush into solutions when the issue is more imminent.

FAQs

References-

• (Carina Kiessling, December 20, 2024, Quantum computing and AI – 
A superpower in the making)
• (Ulrich Scholten, Blockchain at Risk: Can Quantum Computing Break Blockchain)
• (Filippo Vicentini, October 9th, 2024, Quantum computing and AI: less compatible than expected)
• (Sheldon H. Jacobson, February 26, 2025, Quantum computing will be bigger than AI — so why is no one talking about it)
• (Paloalto, What Is Quantum Computing’s Threat to Cybersecurity)