Industry executives and experts share their predictions for 2025. Read them in this 17th annual VMblog.com series exclusive.
By Justin Ging, Chief Product Officer, Atom Computing
Quantum computing has captivated minds for years with its promise to tackle complex problems far beyond the reach of classical computers. As we move into 2025, this groundbreaking technology is on the brink of a significant breakthrough: transitioning from physical qubits to logical qubits. This milestone represents a turning point in the evolution of the quantum industry, unlocking new possibilities across diverse fields and overcoming technical barriers that have previously limited quantum computing’s potential.
Anticipating the transition from physical to logical qubits
Much like classical computers use bits to store information, quantum computers rely on physical qubits to store quantum data. However, physical qubits are highly susceptible to environmental noise, making them error-prone and unsuitable for addressing large-scale computational challenges. This obstacle can be overcome through quantum error correction, a technique that encodes information across multiple physical qubits to form robust, error-resistant units known as logical qubits.
The shift to logical qubits represents a critical step in enabling quantum computers to solve real-world problems, transitioning the technology from experimental research to practical, large-scale applications. Achieving this requires quantum hardware to integrate advanced technologies, sophisticated algorithms, and reliable computational resources in a sustainable manner.
Recent breakthroughs across the quantum industry, along with high-profile industrial collaborations and a growing community of scientists and engineers focused on quantum error correction, have significantly accelerated progress. As a result, the timeline for creating logical qubits is advancing faster than anticipated, bringing us closer to realizing the full potential of quantum computing. For example, Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO, recently announced how Microsoft – together with Atom Computing – has demonstrated a world-record of 24 entangled logical qubits, and running error-corrected algorithms with 28 logical qubits, on Atom’s neutral-atom quantum computing platform that is commercially available.
The opportunities unlocked by the transition to logical qubits
The transition to logical qubits in 2025 is set to revolutionize quantum computing, unlocking transformative capabilities with profound implications across various industries.
One of the earliest beneficiaries will be quantum chemistry, where logical qubits will enable highly precise simulations of chemical reactions, far surpassing the limitations of classical computers. While initial applications will be deeply scientific, this progress is expected to rapidly pivot towards real-world solutions with significant economic and societal benefits.
The renewable energy sector and battery development will also reap major rewards. By simulating quantum processes such as electron behavior in new materials, quantum computers can accelerate the creation of more efficient batteries and energy storage systems. These advancements could catalyze innovations in electric vehicles, renewable energy infrastructure, and sustainable energy technologies.
As the quality and quantity of logical qubits continue to grow, the scope of applications will expand dramatically. This includes speeding up the discovery of new drugs through chemical space exploration, modeling complex financial systems, optimizing supply chains in manufacturing, analyzing the physical properties of new materials, and enhancing machine learning algorithms. Logical qubits will empower quantum systems to handle deeper and more complex computations than ever before.
However, alongside the growing enthusiasm for quantum applications, a critical issue looms: the sustainability of quantum technologies themselves. Like AI and data centers, quantum computing could impose a substantial ecological footprint if not developed responsibly. Sustainable approaches, such as neutral-atom computing, are gaining traction due to their technical advancements and environmentally friendly design. These systems, compact enough to fit in a conference room and consuming less energy than a single data center rack, offer a promising pathway for scaling quantum computing without compromising ecological integrity.
By addressing both technical and environmental challenges, the shift to logical qubits will propel quantum computing into a new era of innovation and sustainability.
2025 will be a breakthrough year for quantum computing
As 2025 approaches, the quantum computing industry stands on the brink of a transformative breakthrough. The shift from physical to logical qubits promises to address long-standing challenges of error rates and scalability, paving the way for more reliable and scalable quantum systems. With visionary companies driving innovation, the next generation of quantum technologies will emerge as more stable, sustainable, and powerful than ever.
This pivotal transition heralds the dawn of a new era for quantum computing-one where previously unsolvable challenges are tackled with unprecedented precision. By the close of 2025, quantum computing could evolve from a theoretical concept to a practical tool, revolutionizing industries and reshaping the technological landscape.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Justin Ging is the Chief Product Officer at Atom Computing, a company obsessed with building the world’s most scalable quantum computers out of optically trapped neutral atoms. As Chief Product Officer, Justin is responsible for leading all aspects of product management and customer experience for Atom Computing’s quantum solutions portfolio. Prior to joining, Justin was the Chief Commercial Officer for Honeywell Quantum Solutions, where he led marketing and business development activities including strategic pathfinding, ecosystem and partner collaborations, technology evangelism, and customer pipeline development. He previously led Marketing teams at Samsung Semiconductor, Micron/Aptina, and Analog Devices, driving development and adoption of cutting-edge semiconductor products. He also held Engineering roles at Lucent Bell Labs and Lockheed Martin. Justin holds multiple degrees from MIT including an MBA Sloan School of Management, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and a Master’s degree in Materials Science.
