In a recent panel discussion moderated by The Economist, industry leaders gathered to explore the evolving landscape of quantum computing . The panel included our very own Ilana Wisby, CEO of OQC, Blake Johnson Distinguished research staff member and quantum platform lead, IBM Quantum, Michael Brett, Principal specialist, quantum computing, Amazon Braket (AWS), Jungsang Kim, Co-founder and CTO, IonQ. The panel was moderated by, Gilead Amit, Science correspondent, The Economist.

The discussion began with a focus on the current market for quantum computing in the cloud and the options available for remote access. For many the core user base is focused on R&D. It includes researchers from universities, national labs, and corporate R&D departments. These scientists and engineers are looking to gain access to quantum computers to explore advancements in hardware, middle-layer stack improvements, and application development. Dr Wisby emphasised the importance of providing access to quantum computers to a broader audience to ensure that today, we build the quantum capabilities that we will all need tomorrow. Industry faces challenges as classical solutions fall short of solving complex problems, and quantum usage remains challenging for those with domain knowledge but with limited quantum familiarity. QcaaS emerges as a potential solution, providing users with access to explore, learn and optimise quantum solutions.

A thought-provoking question was raised about the time-limited nature of cloud quantum computing. Similar to classical compute, quantum computing’s true value lies not just in device access but in services, security, integration, and user management. There is a future where data will move seamlessly between databases, storage, and quantum processes in a hybridised quantum-classical loop.

One thing is sure, as the technology evolves, quantum computing is poised to play a transformative role, with cloud partnerships remaining crucial for accessibility and utilisation.