Prediction: 2025 is the year quantum computing advances from physical qubits to logical qubits

Quantum computing has long been a subject of fascination and excitement, promising to solve complex problems far beyond the capabilities of classical computers. As we enter 2025, this transformative technology is poised to take a giant leap forward, progressing from physical qubits to logical qubits. This shift marks a pivotal moment in the quantum industry’s journey, one which sets the stage for exciting advancements across various industries and addresses the technical challenges that have, until now, constrained the potential of quantum computers.

Predicting the leap from physical to logical qubits

In a similar way that classical computers use bits to store information, quantum computers are built on the use of physical qubits to store quantum information. Unfortunately, physical qubits are sensitive to environmental noise, making them error-prone and unsuitable for solving large computational problems. This limitation can be overcome by using quantum error correction which encodes information across multiple physical qubits to create more reliable, error-resistant units called logical qubits. This transition will allow quantum computers to tackle real-world problems, moving the technology from experimental to practical, large-scale applications.

To effectively create many logical qubits, quantum computing hardware needs to incorporate multiple advanced technologies and algorithms and provide sufficient reliable computational resources in a sustainable way. Recent technical advances across the quantum industry, high-profile industrial partnerships, and an increasing number of scientists and engineers working on quantum error correction has accelerated the timeline to creating logical qubits much sooner than expected.

What the shift to logical qubits will enable

The transition to logical qubits in 2025 will dramatically enhance the capabilities of quantum computers, with far-reaching implications across multiple sectors.

Quantum chemistry is expected to be one of the first quantum computing…