Quantum computing is on the cusp of changing the world.
While the technology is still caught between conception and large-scale deployment, it is impossible to ignore. Similar to the early days of AI, the obstacles are real, but so is its long-term impact.
As progress continues, organisations need to start building awareness and developing the skills of their future workforce. Preparing now will help ensure they are ready to adapt as quantum technologies mature.
Technological shifts toward quantum computing
As the technology industry continues to evolve at pace and scale, quantum computing is steadily moving into focus.
Unsurprisingly, the explosion of AI – especially Generative AI – is shaping this trajectory. While talent and funding are currently prioritising AI due to its more immediate and tangible results, accelerated quantum development is a natural consequence of this AI adoption. AI is already improving circuit design and enabling more effective error correction. As a result, while AI and quantum compete for resources, it is ultimately an enabler of quantum progress, creating short-term competition but long-term synergy between the two fields.
Large technology companies are also playing a defining role. By offering quantum capabilities through cloud platforms, the likes of IBM, Google, and Microsoft are making experimentation with the technology more accessible. At the same time, continued investment in both hardware and software is pushing quantum beyond academic environments and into broader technology ecosystems.
As a result, quantum technology is rapidly becoming strategically critical, particularly in the context of national security. Its implications for cryptography and national security are driving significant government investment. In a bold move the UK government recently announced a pioneering programme worth up to £2 billion in investment, to ensure the UK stays at the forefront of quantum innovation. One of the outcomes of this investment is a commitment to build large-scale quantum computers on UK shores by the early 2030s. The UK is the first country to date to make this a commitment of this type, but others are sure to follow suit.
Preparing the workforce for quantum computing
Quantum may not be imminent just yet, but businesses and policymakers alike should be preparing its rapid escalation.
As we have seen with AI, organisations, and employees who have not learned about responsible deployment often fail to reap the benefits.
The same mistake should not happen with quantum computing.
Quantum will be transformative, although the technology requires highly specialised skills which are currently scarce. It combines physics, mathematics, and computer science, creating a steep talent gap that cannot be filled quickly. The technology industry must start preparing and educating the next generation.
Early preparation will ensure a workforce capable of building, using, and regulating quantum systems as they mature. It also helps organisations stay competitive, avoiding a ‘wait-and-react’ disadvantage when breakthroughs occur. Beyond technical roles, business leaders must understand quantum’s implications to identify use cases and risks.
Ultimately, investing in education now positions organisations to capture value early, adapt faster, and avoid being left behind in a strategically critical field.
What will the next year look like for quantum innovation?
The quantum industry is shifting from hype to practicality. We have entered the ‘post-hype, pre-breakthrough’ phase, focusing on steady progress that prioritises achievable, real-world impact.
Over the next year, there will be continued improvements in hardware, including more stable qubits, reduced error rates, and modest scaling of systems. At the same time, software and algorithms will advance quickly, especially in hybrid quantum-classical approaches where near-term value is more realistic.
For venture investors, near-term opportunities fall under cryogenics, control electronics, lasers, materials and early error-correction infrastructure. In the longer term, quantum may provide an advantage in areas like materials science or biotech.
Additionally, enterprise experimentation will continue to grow as AI accelerates quantum development itself, alongside greater investment from global tech companies and governments. These investments will help to create demand and validate early capabilities, including application exploration, purchasing access to early systems and supporting strategic areas like secure communication and post-quantum cryptography.
The next year will reinforce a phase of building and preparation, laying foundations for the eventual scale of quantum computing. Whilst the timelines may be uncertain, the trajectory is not. Once quantum computing starts, it will not slow down, and preparation today will determine who benefits tomorrow.
