Ordinary computers store information as bits, each either 0 or 1. Quantum computers use qubits, which follow the rules of quantum physics and behave in ways that have no everyday equivalent.
A different way to compute
A quantum algorithm sets up many possibilities at once and uses interference to make wrong answers cancel out and the right answer more likely when the result is measured. For certain problems, this can be dramatically faster than any known classical method.
Problems quantum computers may help with
- Chemistry and materials: simulating molecules for batteries, fertilisers and medicines.
- Optimisation: some scheduling, routing and portfolio problems.
- Cryptography: which is why the world is already moving to quantum-resistant encryption.
What they will not do
Quantum computers are not faster at everything. Email, video, spreadsheets and most business software will stay on classical machines. The likely future is a partnership, with quantum processors acting as specialised accelerators.
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