From January 7 to 10 (local time), at the world's largest IT exhibition 'CES 2025' in Las Vegas, quantum computing is emerging as the next-generation technology following artificial intelligence (AI). A day ahead of the opening, Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, who will give the first keynote speech at CES 2025, recently announced plans to collaborate with Google on next-generation quantum computing. Just as AI technology has shaken the entire industry, efforts are being made to actualize quantum computing, which was once considered pure science fiction. Google revealed last month that its self-developed quantum chip 'Willow' surpassed the performance of the most powerful existing supercomputer, but plans to utilize NVIDIA's supercomputer to develop quantum components to overcome the remaining challenges.
◇ "Quantum technology, the key to industrial innovation"... In-depth discussion at CES
Quantum computing can solve problems that are impossible or would take thousands of years with conventional computers in just a few seconds. As such, it is gaining attention as a future technology that will drive innovations in fields such as cryptography and new drug development. Unlike traditional computers, which process data in binary as 0s and 1s, quantum computers utilize qubits, which overlap and entangle 0s and 1s to express information, allowing for parallel processing of complex calculations. Currently, quantum computing development is in its early stages, with corporations accelerating their research towards commercialization.
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which hosts CES, noted, "Quantum technology is not just a buzzword, but a transformative power that reshapes industries and expands human capabilities," adding, "Quantum technology has now emerged as a powerful tool that is moving beyond laboratories to innovate major industries and academic fields." It stated that discussions at this year's exhibition will focus on how quantum technology is being practically applied in sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, and GPS (Global Positioning System). The CTA identified notable corporations for this exhibition as Google, IBM, Amazon, and Microsoft (MS). Six years ago, IBM unveiled the world's first circuit-based commercial quantum computer at CES.
This CES will be the first occasion to discuss the development and commercialization potential of quantum technology. The CTA is collaborating with the 'Quantum World Congress,' the world's largest quantum conference, to hold a special program on January 9 themed 'Quantum Technology is Now Business.' Since this year is also designated by the United Nations (UN) as the 'Year of Quantum Science and Technology,' there are plans to discuss in-depth global industrial challenges that quantum technology can address, as well as actual application cases.
The CTA emphasized that at this exhibition, attention should be paid not only to quantum computing but also to quantum communication and quantum sensing, the three major quantum technologies. The CTA stated, "Quantum communication is a groundbreaking technology that protects sensitive data ranging from financial transactions to national security, and quantum sensors are also causing innovations in fields such as medical imaging and environmental monitoring by providing a level of sensitivity and precision unattainable by existing sensors."
◇ Accelerating the commercialization of quantum technology... Full-scale market growth
At the corporate exhibition booths, the focus is expected to be on the commercialization of quantum technology. The Korean quantum technology startup Qsimplex showcased a signal generator for quantum communication, winning an innovation award in the embedded technology sector this year. The innovation award is given to products released to the market from April of last year until April of this year that demonstrate high levels of innovation and social contribution. This product replaced the high-cost hardware previously required in quantum communication equipment, integrating high-speed signal generation and precise control into one system. Judges evaluated Qsimplex's signal generator as an innovative solution that will expedite the commercialization of quantum communication.
As global corporations accelerate the commercialization of quantum computing, expectations in the industry are also rising. Last month, Google unveiled its latest quantum computing chip 'Willow,' equipped with 105 qubits, announcing that it processed a calculation that would take 10 septillion years (10 to the 24th power) in just 5 minutes. The more qubits there are, the greater the amount of information the computer can process and the parallel computing power increases, but at the same time, the error rate also rises, making it a challenge to resolve.
A month earlier, MS announced that it successfully reduced the error rate of quantum systems using 24 logical qubits from 41.5% to 9.5%. The U.S. quantum computing company IonQ recently developed a quantum system with 32 qubits, greatly enhancing performance. According to market research firm Precedence Research, the quantum computing market size is expected to grow from approximately $1.09834 billion (about 1.61 trillion won) last year to nearly $16.22310 billion (about 23.87 trillion won) by 2034.