At CES Foundry, a new high-tech zone inside the Fontainebleau Las Vegas hotel, demonstration rooms quickly filled up, and lines formed outside as attendees waited to see quantum systems in action. Presentations in the exhibition area were often standing-room-only.
Industry executives say the technology may be approaching a turning point, sometimes described as a "ChatGPT moment" -- when a complex idea emerges from a research lab and enters widespread use.
Quantum computers, which utilize the principles of quantum physics, are designed to tackle problems that are beyond the reach of classical computers.
This technology is expected to play a role in drug discovery, financial modeling, supply chain optimization, cybersecurity, and various other fields that require advanced computing.
"The momentum is picking up," Pouya Dianat, Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) at Quantum Computing Inc., told Xinhua, noting that progress has moved faster than many expected just a few years ago.
The excitement around quantum computing is fueled in part by the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI). Panelists at CES compared the current situation to the sudden acceleration of AI following the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, noting that adoption could happen faster than businesses anticipated.
More than 200 international and U.S. government officials attended CES, including several senators and the heads of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Communications Commission ( FCC ). Their presence attracted the attention of defense officials, policy analysts, and international media focused on U.S. technology strategy.
Panel discussions at CES suggest that quantum computing may be getting closer to mainstream use.
Ariel Braunstein, Chief Product Officer (CPO) at IonQ, compared the current stage of AI to just before ChatGPT's breakthrough, when early products were available but their broad impact was not yet clear. He warned that adoption could accelerate rapidly, leaving slower-moving companies behind.
