The Quantum Factor Behind AI's Rise
AI is everywhere now. When I’d visit my partner in San Francisco, it started as an inside joke.
Getting off of my 6-hour flight, I’d be greeted by a brightly-colored billboard like Claude AI’s—"Powerful, fast, or safe. Pick three.” My eyes would tear up—not necessarily from the emotion at reuniting with my long-distance partner, but from the billboard’s orange backdrop that could guide planes in low visibility. I would snap him a picture and message him—”Touchdown. Are you here yet? Anthropic is already waiting at baggage claim.”
SFO, or rather, SF, made sure you knew exactly where you were.
But lately, that same loud AI energy is popping up in more and more places. Over the last year, here in New York, and when I visit my family in New Jersey, I notice references to AI everywhere—on bus stop ads, in news stories, and in casual conversations. I
While most people recognize AI as a transformative force, fewer are aware of one of the key technologies quietly fueling its progress: quantum computing. Though it is largely confined to discussions among researchers and tech insiders, quantum computing is shaping the future of AI behind the scenes. Many governments and tech giants see it as the next frontier—one that could supercharge AI’s future capabilities. It deserves more attention in public discourse, and that is why it is the focus of today’s article.
Quantum computing is unlike anything I’ve seen before. Instead of using bits (0 or 1), like conventional computing uses, it relies on “qubits,” which can be 0 and 1 at the same time. That trick means a quantum computer could handle multiple calculations in one go. In practice, a standard computer tests possible solutions in a long, linear marathon, while a quantum computer sprints through them in parallel. Problems that might stymie a normal supercomputer for millennia could, in theory, be solved by a quantum machine in hours or even minutes. What makes quantum computing so fascinating is that it forces us to rethink what we thought was computationally possible in the world of AI.
Yes, practical quantum computers are still in the early stages. Yet, governments, tech giants, and startups alike are investing enormous sums to speed up progress: companies like IBM, Google, and Microsoft have launched well-funded projects to push quantum hardware beyond small prototypes. In Chicago, for example, a company called PsiQuantum is building a large-scale, 300,000-square-foot “Quantum Park” in partnership with the Chicago Quantum Exchange, aiming to construct one of the country’s first fully error-corrected machines. Similar moves are underway worldwide, including in Europe, China, and Australia—all keen to establish themselves as leaders in quantum technology.
Can Security Keep Up?
For all its potential, quantum computing also introduces new considerations for cybersecurity. Today’s encryption relies on mathematical puzzles—like factoring very large numbers—that are nearly impossible for classical computers to solve quickly. A future quantum computer, however, could tackle these same challenges more efficiently, which could call into question the durability of current encryption standards.
Right now, these machines aren’t yet powerful enough to threaten mainstream cryptographic systems. But experts are preparing for the day when “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks become feasible. That would mean hackers collecting encrypted data now, then decrypting it later using a sufficiently advanced quantum machine. To counter this, organizations such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have been identifying and standardizing new, “quantum-resistant” encryption methods. Transitioning global infrastructure to these updated standards is a process that could take several years.
How Washington is shaping quantum tech
Enter the current U.S. political landscape. Since President Donald Trump’s second inauguration last month, there’s been an extreme push for deregulation on Capitol Hill. New executive orders demand agencies remove multiple regulations for every new one they propose. On the one hand, fewer constraints might spur quantum innovation—companies could move faster, test more freely, and bring new technologies to market without extensive red tape. On the other, a lighter regulatory touch could mean less oversight and fewer coordinated policies to ensure data protection standards keep pace with rapidly evolving quantum capabilities. The policies enacted now may have long-term implications for both technological leadership and cybersecurity.
International competition adds another layer of complexity. Both the United States and China recognize the transformative potential of quantum computing and are investing heavily to gain a competitive edge. China has committed approximately $15.3 billion in public funds for quantum computing, significantly eclipsing U.S. investments of around $3.8 billion . China's ambition to lead in this technology sector is evident.
As both nations vie for supremacy in not just AI, but quantum computing, I believe whoever leads will set the pace for the next wave of economic and technological dominance.
This quote from JustSecurity puts it best:
It’s simple: first to scale, first to control. Control what? Certainly, it’s about profit and progress, but I think the more we look at this from different angles, we’re seeing the complexities of statecraft. To me, control means shaping the rules of the game—economically, militarily, politically. In the end, is this not geopolitics in code?
Why does it matter to me and to you?
Most of our digital lives—from online banking to private messages—rely on encryption that quantum computing could one day break. While that future may still be years off, the groundwork is being laid now: by companies racing to build the first powerful quantum machines, by governments setting the pace for regulation (or the lack of it), and by hackers already planning for a future where “harvest now, decrypt later” becomes reality.
Right now, the U.S. is ahead in the quantum race—but it needs to play the long game. It has to be about leading wisely, because as I’ve seen, what happens next won’t stay in one country, or city. Now is the time for policymakers to do more than watch from the sidelines. The U.S. needs to invest not just in quantum innovation, but in long-term, enforceable standards for quantum-safe encryption—backed by real deadlines and funding for implementation across critical infrastructure.
To many, quantum computing may still be quiet. But that’s exactly why we should be paying closer attention. It’s exciting, it’s disruptive, and it’s coming fast.
