MICROSOFT URGES U.S.TO KEEP PACE WITH CHINA IN QUANTUM COMPUTING RACE

Microsoft President Brad Smith issued an urgent call this week, warning that the United States risks losing its edge to China in the race to develop quantum computers, a technology poised to reshape industries from cybersecurity to pharmaceuticals.

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Speaking to CNBC, Smith stressed that lagging behind could undermine U.S. economic competitiveness and national security, urging increased federal funding, workforce development, and supply chain fortification. For policymakers, technology leaders, and global investors, this plea highlights the critical stakes of quantum computing, a field driving innovation in the digital economy.

Quantum computers, harnessing qubits that operate in multiple states simultaneously, offer computational power far beyond classical systems, capable of solving problems like molecular modeling or encryption cracking in minutes rather than millennia. The U.S. has long led quantum research, but China's substantial investments and recent breakthroughs signal a narrowing gap.

Microsoft's Majorana 1 chip, launched in February 2025, advances error-resistant quantum systems, yet doubts from physicists and China's progress, such as the 72-qubit Origin Wukong, underscore the need for action.

QUANTUM COMPUTING'S VAST POTENTIAL AND RISKS

Quantum computers leverage qubits, which exploit superposition and entanglement to perform calculations at speeds unattainable by classical supercomputers. This capability could revolutionize drug discovery by simulating molecular interactions, optimize global logistics networks, or break current encryption standards, impacting everything from finance to national defense. The technology’s promise has made it a strategic priority, with nations racing to achieve quantum advantage—solving practical problems beyond classical computing's reach.