The picture above illustration of a quantum computer on a dark surface with blue and white lights on it.

In an interview, Ulrich Seyfarth of BearingPoint discusses the hurdles facing quantum computers…

Quantum computing is an exciting and evolving deep-tech sector that could transform parts of society when it comes to fruition in the future.

Here are five takeaways from the interview:

1. Quantum computers are capable of processing vast amounts of data and could eventually solve problems that are far too advanced for modern supercomputers, which would lead to enormous benefits for humanity at that time.

2. However, there will be a variety of technological and scientific hurdles to overcome before humans can create true quantum computers. According to Seyfarth, a lot of effort has been made to solve the issues surrounding quantum computers, but there is still a long way to go.

3. The challenges include the number of information carriers (qubits) needed and the ability to compute long-running calculations due to the impact of noise and decoherence effects which must be mitigated by powerful error-correction methods.

4. He said the current stage of quantum computing is called NISQ (noisy intermediate-scale quantum), more a playground to get used to quantum computing, than a stage where humans can gain from powerful new solutions.

5. Recently, some researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) claimed they found a new way to hit 99.9pc accuracy in certain quantum operations. But quantum computing company Quantiniuum claimed it had earlier been able to accurately simulate a hydrogen molecule by using an error-detecting code.

Once complete, quantum computers will herald massive benefits for the human race.