A Practical Quantum Computer Is Coming! But When?

Google, IBM, Amazon, Microsoft and Intel are all working on quantum technology, as are numerous startups. At its annual GTC developer conference this week Nvidia CEO, Jensen Huang, announced the company was opening a quantum research lab in Boston. Governments around the world have also pledged over $50 billion to develop the technology. Quantum computers hold huge potential, with experts saying that they could transform entire sectors including material science, pharmaceutical research and financial services. But despite massive advancements in the field in recent years, right now, these quantum computers aren’t able to solve big real-world problems. CNBC's Kate Rooney visits California-based startup, PsiQuantum and spoke to experts about the major challenges this tech still faces as engineers work to transition quantum computers from lab experimentation to commercial viability.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
3:09 Quantum computing's potential
7:00 - Quantum conundrum
12:37 Progress

Produced by: Magdalena Petrova
Reporter: Kate Rooney
Edited by: Evan Lee Miller
Animation: Jason Reginato, Andrea Schmitz
Senior Director of Video: Jeniece Pettitt
Additional Production: Kevin Schmidt
Camera/audio: Cary Patton, Steve Theroux
Additional Footage: Getty Images, Amazon, Google, GlobalFoundries

About CNBC: From 'Wall Street' to 'Main Street' to award winning original documentaries and Reality TV series, CNBC has you covered. Experience special sneak peeks of your favorite shows, exclusive video and more.

Connect with CNBC News Online

#CNBC

A Practical Quantum Computer Is Coming! But When?

[rd]

Quantum computing and Fusion Reactors. Always just around the corner. HOWEVER if they ever get there in either one...they will be great leaps forward. Definitely worthy work being done on both.

[TimothyChase]

I just wanted to thank CNBC for explaining that qubits are a "linear superposition of 0 and 1.". This is much more accurate than saying they are "1 and 0 at the same time." Every qubit state maps to a specific point on what is called a "Bloch sphere" whereas 0 maps only to the north pole of that sphere and 1 to the south pole. Moreover, every single qubit logic gate (in standard gate-based quantum computation) acts as a rotation of qubits (or equivalently vectors extending from the center to their positions) on that sphere.

I also appreciate bringing up entanglement as this appears to be a large element of what makes quantum computation so powerful. It is the reason why, while to double the computational power of a classical processor one must double the number of bits, potentially, each qubit doubles the computational processor of a quantum computer as each potential combination of measured values has a coefficient, the square of which is proportional to the probability of that outcome, and those coefficients can effectively vary independently of one-another.

It is sometimes said that quantum computers are capable of massive parallelism due to qubits being "both 1 and 0 at the same time." This is not simply wrong but totally misses what is involved as this does nothing to explain how they arrive at their results. In contrast, your pointing to linear combination brings your audience much closer to understanding the role of constructive and destructive interference (albeit this requires the use of complex numbers in order to apply this wavelike mechanism) in increasing the likelihood of getting the right answer and reducing the likelihood of getting the wrong answer at the time of measurement.

However, up until that point of measurement, standard quantum gate-based is entirely deterministic. For individual qubits being acted upon by single-qubit gates, it consists of rotations of the sphere which I referred to earlier. For arrays of qubits? Rotations of a vector in a higher dimensional Hilbert space.

For those who are interested, they will find understanding quantum computation a fascinating even if difficult endeavour.

[TheCoolDave]

And just so you know, this is what you will need to play Grand Theft Auto

[AWSQuantumAGISupremacy]

The real question isn’t if—it’s how prepared we’ll be when it finally arrives. This video hits the nail on the head: quantum computing isn’t just the next leap in speed—it’s a total shift in logic, encryption, and how reality gets processed. We’re talking about machines that don’t just crunch numbers, but operate across superposition and entanglement—concepts that literally break classical boundaries. A practical quantum computer won’t just revolutionize pharmaceuticals or logistics—it will redefine cybersecurity, national defense, and digital identity. The challenge isn’t building the machine anymore—it’s aligning industry, education, and policy fast enough to match what’s coming. The tech is real. The stakes are global. And if we’re not investing in quantum literacy now, we risk waking up in a world run by those who were. Massive respect to CNBC for bringing this conversation mainstream—this is the future unfolding in real time.

[Steve_Takes]

It'll be 10 more videos like this for 10 more years until something actually happens.

[MaddyIndia]

Excellent presentation touching both on the workings of these systems and their potential use cases.

[leakyabstraction]

US tech companies preparing for the next bubble after AI?

[eliteone]

I truly don't think a large portion of the population understands how much this could change the world as we know it.

[Introverted]

Nobody:

Practical Quantum Computer: I'm coming

[defectiveresistor]

It’s taken me this long to learn Windows 11.

[billymartin]

Understand when they say they are working to make it a reality that it already is and has been.

[urbanstrencan]

I really hope we are close to getting quantum computing to the market

[意識共鳴AIアルch]

Three Modes of Information Processing: Dial Analogy

1. Classical (Traditional)
- Information is retrieved one by one.
- Slow and linear access.

2. Quantum (Quantum-based)
- All possible states are evaluated simultaneously.
- Parallel processing.

3. f-bit (Frequency-based)
- Information is embedded in frequency.
- Recognition happens via conscious resonance (Δf × I = f-bit).

→ A new era of information, beyond bits and qubits.
Thanks. – The Originator

[SpaceVYX]

Quantum computers are the best invention ever. Practical quantum computers will significantly change the world for the better. It's the technology of the future that will be with us for centuries.

[Matt-fcgw]

Crazy to think that the computers we use today were the same size as a quantum computer 60 years ago! Just think, in another 60 years, quantum computers will be in all our pockets!

[VeritasAssegai]

Great video and I am worried about quantum hacking - and the effects on business

[IHWKR]

D-wave has already sold a quantum computer. They are the only company to sell one so far.

[pinonXO]

Very informative! Great reporting and excited about quantum 🎉

[ezJavaMan]

D wave is most hyped up quantum company. The CEO claimed they've useful quantum hardware now but the revenue is only 2 millions and from government labs. It will be at least 5 years before any practical application

[nesseihtgnay]

The US needs to stay the leader in quantum computer technology.