Expert flags split approaches among tech players in quantum computing - Investing.com
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Gold steady above $5,000/oz amid geopolitical, economic risks Citi lifts silver prices target, says move to $300 is "extremely unlikely" Bernstein says tokenization is ’a game changer’, names best stock to own S&P 500 notches record close on tech boost; UnitedHealth weighs on Dow Investing.com -- Experts say the push to develop quantum computing is unfolding through sharply divided strategies among major technology companies, reflecting unresolved technical challenges and differing views on how the technology should be built and delivered. In a discussion with a quantum computing expert hosted by BMO Capital Markets, the expert said quantum computing remains at an early stage, with progress constrained by difficulties in error correction, fault tolerance and scalability. Quantum computing uses principles of quantum physics to perform calculations that differ from classical computing, but the expert said broader adoption will depend on overcoming foundational technical limits. The expert identified error correction as a central barrier, saying quantum states are highly fragile and can be disrupted by minor environmental changes such as heat. Without effective error correction, errors accumulate rapidly and prevent quantum algorithms from running long enough to produce meaningful results. The expert said the industry is still in the early stages of developing stable, error-corrected logical qubits, which are required for fault-tolerant systems. Some providers have demonstrated only a limited number of logical qubits, while many others have not yet shown proven results. The expert said these constraints have led to multiple competing hardware approaches, known as modalities, each with trade-offs. Superconducting qubits, used by companies such as IBM and Google, allow fast operations and scalable manufacturing but require extreme cooling and face networking limitations. Ion and atomic qubits, used by IonQ, offer strong qubit connectivity but operate more slowly and become harder to scale physically. Photonic qubits, which encode information in particles of light, align naturally with fiber-optic networks but face challenges in building large, error-corrected systems. According to the expert, ion and atomic systems have made greater progress in error correction than superconducting systems, with tens of logical qubits reported. The expert said a dominant modality could emerge within the next five years but noted uncertainty around whether companies committed to superconducting systems could shift strategies if ion and atomic approaches gain traction. Differences in approach extend to how major technology companies position themselves in the quantum market. The expert said IBM has focused on superconducting systems for several years and remains a leader, though its roadmap may face challenges related to scale and error correction. Microsoft was described as having pulled back from developing its own quantum systems, instead emphasizing cloud platforms and third-party technology stacks. Amazon was described as having a less mature hardware effort and focusing more on cloud-based quantum platforms rather than internal system development. Google was described by the expert as more committed to quantum computing than Microsoft or Amazon but oriented toward academic research rather than near-term production use cases. IonQ was identified as a leader in ion and atomic qubits, while the expert questioned D-Wave’s current capabilities, particularly how much of its offering relies on classical computing rather than quantum processing. The expert said current quantum computing use cases are largely limited to scientific and academic research, with broader commercial applications expected to require hundreds to tens of thousands of logical qubits. Governments were cited as among the few buyers of quantum systems today. The expert also said organizations may prefer accessing quantum computing through cloud services rather than owning and operating systems, given the complexity of maintaining hardware and the need for specialized expertise. The fastest way to find out is with our Fair Value calculator. We use a mix of 17 proven industry valuation models for maximum accuracy. Get the bottom line for MSFT plus thousands of other stocks and find your next hidden gem with massive upside. Join our investing challenges and compete for rewards while you learn!