The Runners and Riders in the Quantum Race
Of course, having a brilliant idea and actually building a business from it are two very different things. A few companies are making a serious go of it, each with its own peculiar strategy. Quantum Computing Inc, for instance, is betting on light, using photons instead of the more common superconducting circuits. It’s a bold move that could pay off handsomely if they can make it scale, but it remains a bit of a dark horse.
Then you have D Wave Quantum, the pragmatist of the group. They’ve built a specialised machine for optimisation problems and are already selling access to it. They are actually making some money, which is a novelty in this field. The question is whether their specialised approach will be left in the dust when, or if, a truly universal quantum computer arrives.
Finally, there’s ARQIT QUANTUM, which has taken a wonderfully cynical and potentially brilliant approach. They aren’t just building the new, powerful computers, they are selling the new, stronger locks. As quantum machines threaten to break today’s security, ARQIT is developing quantum-proof encryption. It’s the classic strategy of selling shovels during a gold rush.
