Harvard Expert Debunks 3 Quantum Computing Myths, Says Wider Cloud Access Could Come in 5 to 10 Years
Updated
Updated · New Scientist · May 18
Harvard Expert Debunks 3 Quantum Computing Myths, Says Wider Cloud Access Could Come in 5 to 10 Years
1 articles · Updated · New Scientist · May 18
Shayan Majidy said quantum computers already exist and are used daily by researchers, with some systems already accessible remotely from home.
He said the machines are not universally faster than classical computers; they deliver meaningful gains only on narrow tasks such as factoring, unstructured search, quantum simulation and some optimization problems.
Majidy rejected the idea that quantum computers are just many classical computers working at once, noting that measurement collapses qubits to a single outcome rather than revealing exponentially many answers.
Their advantage, he said, comes from algorithms that exploit superposition, interference and entanglement to amplify correct results, not from raw speed across everyday tasks like web browsing or gaming.
Majidy said he would not be surprised if within 5 to 10 years students routinely access quantum computers through the cloud for experiments.
As qubit counts soar past 1,000, why do practical, world-changing quantum applications still seem so far out of reach?
Beyond breaking codes, which industries will be the first to gain a real market advantage from quantum computing's unique abilities?
With adversaries harvesting data for 'Q-Day,' is the global race to deploy quantum-safe cryptography already behind schedule?
From Harvard’s 3,000-Qubit Milestone to a $1 Trillion Quantum Economy: The Next Era of Quantum Computing
Overview
In 2025, Harvard University and its collaborators achieved a major milestone by demonstrating a 3,000-qubit quantum computer that could run continuously for over two hours. This breakthrough addressed the key challenge of keeping qubits stable and coherent for long periods. The success was made possible by an innovative tweezer array architecture, which allowed rapid replacement and maintenance of qubits, supporting reloading rates up to 30,000 qubits per second. The system used advanced techniques to transport and prepare atoms, enabling the highest published logical-qubit counts at the time and marking a significant leap forward in quantum computing.