The potential impact of quantum computers on society

Robson Giles

Ronald de Wolf

This paper considers the potential impact that the nascent technology of quantum computing may have on society. It focuses on three areas: cryptography, optimization, and simulation of quantum systems. We will also discuss some ethical aspects of these developments, and ways to mitigate the risks.

Matt Turlington, Lee E. Sattler, Dante J. Pacella +2 more

Matthias Möller, C. Vuik

Quantum computing technologies have become a hot topic in academia and industry receiving much attention and financial support from all sides. Building a quantum computer that can be used practically is in itself an outstanding challenge that has become the ‘new race to the moon’. Next to researchers and vendors of future computing technologies, national authorities are showing strong interest in maturing this technology due to its known potential to break many of today’s encryption techniques, which would have significant and potentially disruptive impact on our society. It is, however, quite likely that quantum computing has beneficial impact on many computational disciplines. In this article we describe our vision of future developments in scientific computing that would be enabled by the advent of software-programmable quantum computers. We thereby assume that quantum computers will form part of a hybrid accelerated computing platform like GPUs and co-processor cards do today. In particular, we address the potential of quantum algorithms to bring major breakthroughs in applied mathematics and its applications. Finally, we give several examples that demonstrate the possible impact of quantum-accelerated scientific computing on society.

Mario Coccia

Abstract Quantum computer and computing are areas of theoretical and experimental research having a phase of growth that can generate a tectonic shift of the evolution of technology in society. The scientific and technological development in quantum research is due to a range of driving technological trajectories that are growing to solve more and more complex problems. The goal of this study is to detect emerging research fields and technological trajectories of quantum computing to explain and generalize, whenever possible, the technological characteristics of evolutionary dynamics in science and technology. Database of Scopus concerning documents and patents is used for statistical analyses to determine the growth of research fields and technological trajectories having a high potential impact in science and society. Results suggest that quantum research is driven by emerging scientific and technological trajectories given by Qubits, Quantum optics, Quantum circuit, Semiconductor quantum dots and quantum information. Overall, this study explains, whenever possible, emerging research fields and technological technologies in quantum computing that support scientific and technological change directed to future economic and social progress. Finally, technology analysis of this study can help policymakers to support the allocation of resources for all areas of Quantum Science having a high potential of growth and positive impact in science and society.

Cemal Dikmen, Martijn Wiarda, Roland Ortt