The Impact of Quantum Computing

Quantum information processing holds great promise, yet large-scale, general purpose, universal quantum computers capable of solving hard problems of practical interest are not yet available despite 25+ years of immense worldwide effort and large investments. However, special purpose quantum information processors, such as the quantum simulators originally envisioned by Feynman, now appear to be within reach. Another type of currently operational special purpose quantum information processor is a "quantum annealer", designed to speed up the solution to classical optimization and sampling problems. “Quantum supremacy” has meanwhile been reached and is considered an intermediate target allowing the current generation of quantum computers to demonstrate superiority against classical computers. After a brief introduction to “what is quantum computing”, this talk will review these developments and their broader impacts, with an eye towards the long term prospects of quantum computers.