The Transistor Age of Quantum Computing

<p>Quantum computing is capturing the fascination and the imagination of the technology world.</p> <p>It's built upon the new and unfamiliar field of quantum physics -- where principles such as superposition and entanglement offer <a href="https://7investing.com/articles/the-intrigue-of-quantum-computing-with-strangeworks-ceo-whurley/">the intrigue of unlocking entirely new opportunities.</a> The world's formerly unsolvable problems of logistics optimization, drug discovery, cybersecurity, and material design could now have a tool that potentially cracks those codes. Futuristic opportunities like solving climate change or operating in the space economy eagerly await on the horizon.</p> <p>Yet for all of the promise that quantum computing holds and all of the attention it's gained from the world's greatest scientists, it's still taking a frustratingly-long time to move beyond the R&amp;D stage. Cloud service providers like <strong>Amazon</strong> and <strong>Microsoft</strong> have functional quantum computers that can selectively used in certain capacities. But a commercially-useful, error-corrected quantum computer still out of reach for the world's business leaders to harness. We're still a long way from finding Richard Feynman's Killer App.</p> <p>So what should investors do about this intriguing yet commercially-frustrating quantum opportunity? Are recently-public pure plays in the space like <strong>IonQ</strong> about to make a quantum leap with upcoming breakthroughs? Are deep-pocketed tech companies like <strong>Alphabet</strong> going to completely rewrite the semiconductor supply chain? Or will quantum computing still remain in the "too hard" pile -- fraught with technical risks, uncertainties, and no generally-agreed-upon commercial path forward?</p> <p>To help us answer those questions, we’ve brought in an expert. Tiernan Ray is one of the technology industry’s best reporters. He's covered the tech landscape for more than two decades – from the early days of the internet and the dotcom boom to the ris