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quantum computer

What Is Quantum Computing?

michael sorrenti

Michael Sorrenti

I help companies design products people can’t stop using | Creative Technologist | Product design & AI Advisory | Builder for Disney, ESPN, Mattel, Marvel & Nickelodeon | Founder, Game Pill

Quantum computing is one of the most complex and exciting frontiers in modern science. At first glance, the field can feel almost impossible to understand, filled with unfamiliar terms, strange physics, and systems that seem to break the normal rules of reality. Yet beneath that complexity is a simple goal: solving problems that traditional computers struggle to process.

The idea itself sounds futuristic, but quantum computing is already beginning to shape real industries around the world. Researchers are using these systems to study molecular structures for medicine, strengthen cybersecurity, optimize transportation routes, improve financial modeling, and explore cleaner forms of energy production. Companies such as Rigetti Computing, IBM, Google Quantum AI, IonQ, D-Wave Systems, and many others continue investing billions into the development of new hardware, software, and cloud systems that bring quantum technology closer to everyday use. As artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and advanced simulation systems continue to grow, quantum computing is quickly becoming one of the defining technologies of the modern era.

In this article series, I will break down what quantum computing is, why it is important, and what to look out for.

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Brief: What Quantum Computing Actually Is

As we all commonly do, the next time you bring up the word “quantum” in conversation, people’s brains shut off, inherently upon hearing the word since it’s famously difficult to explain. Concepts can be unfamiliar at times, even for experts, but a basic understanding will help clear why quantum systems are so different from traditional computing, and how this will affect our future. As well, it will help you read this article, which is a nice add-on.

Every standard computer in the world uses a binary system built on ‘Bits,’ which are represented by 1s and 0s to communicate and process information (Aleksander). A bit can be understood like a light switch that is either on or off, with no state in between. Even a dim light is still technically on, only with less power. A similar comparison can be made to neurons in the brain, which either fire the synapses forming the memory (like a 1), or it does not fire the synapses (like a 0), which is funny to see how our technology follows nature (Levitan and Kaczmarek).

Quantum computers operate differently by using ‘Qubits,’ which are far more flexible than traditional bits because they can exist in multiple states; this property is known as ‘Superposition’ (Hughes et al.). To simplify the concept, it can be compared to a spinning coin; not resting on heads or tails, but instead spinning in a way that represents both possibilities together. This allows groups of qubits to process many possible outcomes, giving quantum systems the ability to explore problems in a much broader way than standard computers.

Another important concept is ‘Entanglement’, in which two qubits become linked in such a way that an effect on one can instantly change the other, even across large distances; this unusual behavior was predicted years earlier by Albert Einstein, yet he debated at the time, unsure of its existence (Horodecki et al.). But he was right, entanglement plays a major role in how quantum systems share and process information.

To ensure peak performance, it’s essential to understand ‘Interference’, which is in a similar form to how waves interact with one another, similar to sound waves or waves in water; in quantum computing, controlling interference levels is used to strengthen the paths connected to correct answers while weakening less useful outcomes (Long). In a simple sense, this can be compared to tuning a radio to find a clearer signal; the actual process inside a quantum computer is far more advanced and mathematically complex.

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How Quantum Computing Works Step by Step

Although the science behind quantum computers can appear overwhelming at first, the process follows a structured series of steps designed to prepare, control, and measure information at an extremely small scale; each stage plays a critical role in helping the system remain stable long enough to perform calculations that traditional computers struggle to complete. Understanding the basic flow of this process helps explain how quantum computers process information in unique and powerful ways.

The first step in gathering any information from a quantum computer is preparing the qubits through creating an extremely cold environment in a carefully controlled space that blocks vibrations and stray signals, which could interfere with the process; this cooling reaches temperatures close to absolute zero (-273.15ºC), helping reduce thermal noise and maintain quantum coherence (Shachtman). At higher temperatures, atoms move more rapidly, which can disrupt superposition and entanglement states (Kaviany). Creating the right environment is essential, as stability forms the foundation for the entire system. It’s interesting how the first step to anything is to change the environment to fit the outcomes.

Once the environment is prepared, ‘Lasers’ (like the ones you would see in the movies) are directed toward a ‘Quantum Register’ (a group of qubits); these lasers help trap and control atoms to be studied and manipulated with greater precision (de Vivie-Riedle and Troppmann). The system uses ‘Optical Tweezers’ to guide the position of atoms as accurately as possible and assist in creating superpositions, which allow qubits to change states and interact with one another during calculations (Beugnon et al.).

Software engineers create ‘Quantum Gates’, a code that acts as the building blocks of quantum operations. Algorithms that process information through changing qubit states; these operations include both ‘Single-Qubit Gates’ and “Multi-Qubit Gates’ (Das, Bhattacharya, and Datta). The names are no misnomer as single-qubit gates work with individual qubits, and multi-qubit gates involve several qubits interacting together through entanglement. As entanglement spreads through the system, information becomes connected across multiple qubits, creating complex patterns that allow the computer to process large amounts of information simultaneously (Li et al. 2133–2189).

The next stage involves quantum interference, where the system strengthens pathways connected to correct answers while weakening less useful outcomes; after this process, scientists measure the qubits, causing each superposition to collapse into a final state represented as either a 1 or a 0. In short, you can’t gain information from the superposition because it falls apart once it’s observed (Bassi et al. 471–527). This process is repeated many times at extremely high speed to gather reliable data and improve the accuracy of the results.

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Reading a Quantum Computer

Quantum computers often operate through ‘Cloud-Based Systems’, where information is connected to storage networks, databases, and supporting software platforms; this allows researchers and engineers to access powerful quantum systems without needing the hardware directly in front of them. A cloud-based system is a database that stores information gathered by the supercomputer, or any other kind of computer, really. Commonly, people interact with Google Drive, which also uses a cloud-based system to store public and private data (Miller).

Reading information from a quantum system is difficult since measuring qubits causes their superposition states to collapse, thus changing the system during observation (as stated before). To manage this process, quantum computing and software engineers design ‘Logic Gates’ and use a principal set any computer science major groan with their head in their hands, ‘Boolean Functions’ to interpret and process information in the most controlled way possible before the final measurement takes place (O’Donnell). Once measured and translated, this data can then be used by classical computer systems.

Hundreds to thousands of programming languages have been created, with some estimates suggesting that nearly 9,000 have existed by 2026 (Largares); many modern systems are built around widely used languages such as C++, while specialized libraries and frameworks are developed to support more specific technical needs (Stroustrup). Quantum computing follows a similar path, where custom tools and languages are designed to help developers interact with quantum systems and build programs suited to this new form of computing. However, there are significantly more languages than computers, as we have built 100 – 200 actively working quantum computers in the world currently (Hughes et al.).

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A New Frontier Being Pioneered

As society moves further into a new digital age, it becomes increasingly clear that much of the future development in technology will involve ‘Artificial Intelligence’ (AI) and advanced computing systems; many researchers are confident that modern AI language models will help people better understand and organize the large amounts of data produced through quantum computing. This potential reaches far beyond simple automation tasks, as the combination of AI and quantum systems has already led to major advances in science, medicine, engineering, and research (Ying).

This technological frontier represents a major period of innovation, with companies such as Rigetti Computing, IBM, IonQ, D-Wave Systems, and Google helping lead the growth of the quantum computing industry through advanced systems and specialized engineering teams. These companies support major research efforts focused on solving difficult problems, improving computational methods, and developing the tools needed to explore new scientific possibilities.

In the next article, we will be looking at where this technology is going, and why you should care.

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Helping Companies Understand Emerging Technology

Michael Sorrenti and his team at GAME PILL help companies understand emerging technology by turning complexity into clarity and theory into practical application.

With 26+ years of experience building games, AI systems, and digital platforms for global brands like Disney, Marvel, and Nickelodeon, they bring a unique perspective: people do not engage with what they do not understand, and they do not adopt what they do not trust.

From breaking down concepts like quantum computing and AI into intuitive models to building interactive experiences that let teams explore these technologies hands-on, GAME PILL transforms abstract innovation into something tangible. Instead of static reports and surface-level explanations, they create environments where leaders can see how emerging technologies behave, where they create value, and where they fall short.

Sources:

#QuantumComputing #EmergingTech #FutureOfTechnology #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #DeepTech #CloudComputing #Cybersecurity #FinTech #HealthTech #SupplyChain #EnergyInnovation #MachineLearning #TechTrends #DigitalTransformation #Startups #BigTech #QuantumAI #NextGenComputing #ResearchAndDevelopment

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