e have all heard the phrase quantum leap. This is literally what’s going to happen; it’s around the corner. Quantum mechanics and the power of Artificial Intelligence are on the verge of bringing about a technological revolution like none before.

Most of us have some idea of AI-based applications and the changes they’re bringing into our daily lives, though we have only started realizing their true potential and impact on society. However, few people are aware yet of quantum technology and the power it holds to drastically alter the way we use technology.

A bit first on the basic concept of quantum: A quantum is the smallest discrete unit of a physical entity: a quantum of light is a photon; a quantum of electricity is an electron. The word comes from the Latin word meaning ‘an amount’ or how much. If something is quantifiable, it can be measured.

German physicist Max Planck introduced the modern concept of quantum in physics in 1901. Instead of assuming that the energy from heat was emitted in a constant wave, he postulated that the energy was emitted in discrete packets or bundles, termed quanta of energy. This led him to the discovery of Planck’s constant, which is a fundamental universal value. Planck’s constant relates the energy in one photon to the frequency of the photon.

The discovery of quanta and the quantum nature of sub-atomic particles led to the birth of quantum physics.

Fast forward to the present era, quantum postulations are no longer mere theories. Quantum mechanics principles are now at the threshold of being applied practically in ways unimagined earlier. The emerging quantum technologies include: quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum entanglement, quantum cryptography, quantum sensors and quantum materials.

We are aware of the imminent emergence of quantum computers, for example, and their awesome capability of solving complex problems that are not solvable even when using the most powerful supercomputers currently available.

Quantum computers are radically different to our classic computers. They use quantum bits, known as qu-bits, to perform tasks considered too complex for classical computers to handle. They use quantum phenomena, known as entanglement, to achieve super high-speed communication.

What are the qu-bits and what is the entanglement phenomenon?

Quantum technology, together with Artificial Intelligence, has the potential to revolutionise all aspects of our lives beyond our imagination. We stand on the threshold of a new era of discovery and innovation. 

Classical computers are based on a binary system of 0 and 1 states that can exist only in one state at a given time. In quantum computing, the qubits can exist as 0, 1 or both. The latter is referred to as a superposition. This ability of quantum computers to operate in both states at the same time results in processing data at extraordinarily high speeds.

This brings us to the entanglement phenomenon mentioned above. Two qubits are said to be entangled when the state of one qubit is directly related to the state of the other, irrespective of how far apart they are from each other.

If the property of one qubit changes, the property of the other will also change in the same manner without any delay or connection between them. The advent of large-scale versions of these quantum computers will open up endless new possibilities never comprehended before.

With the speed-ups brought by entanglement and superposition, a single quantum computer would outperform all traditional computers in problem-solving. Computers will be able to perform calculations and solve algorithms considered too complex to be solved with currently available computing power.

We are at the threshold of a quantum revolution in almost all spheres of life. The emerging technologies that will be impacted most include:

Q/computing (discussed above), Q/communications: utilising Q/phenomenon of entanglement, Q/sensors: to achieve high precision measurements with applications including imaging, navigation and environmental monitoring (through more accurate simulations of atmospheric and oceanic processes), Q/materials and so on.

Quantum research is making huge strides. It won’t be too long before we start realising its impact on an astronomical scale. Quantum technology, together with Artificial Intelligence, has the potential to revolutionise all aspects of our lives. We stand on the threshold of a new era of discovery and innovation, driven by the power of quantum technology and AI, about to witness a transformation on a scale never witnessed before.

The writer, a senior consultant at the Burki Institute of Public Policy at Netsol, is a corporate member of the Institution of Engineering Technology, UK, and a chartered engineer, UK. He may be contacted at: [email protected]