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# Quantum Computing - How Does It Work, How Will it Affect Us and When?

Quantum computers will shatter standard encryption, and adversaries are already harvesting your data today. Discover how this technology works and why post-quantum cryptography is an urgent enterprise imperative.

- **Speakers:** [John Fletcher](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/@john-fletcher), [Lorenzo Petricone](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/@lorenzo-petricone)
- **Event:** World Congress 2026 Europe
- **Published:** July 10, 2026
- **Duration:** 29:33
- **URL:** https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100293-quantum-computing-how-does-it-work-how-will-it-affect-us-and-when

## Summary

Quantum computing is rapidly shifting from a theoretical concept to a disruptive technical reality. At its core, quantum computing operates on basic units called "qubits," which substitute binary classical bits with probabilistic states known as "superposition" (often manipulated via operations like the Hadamard gate). Additionally, qubits leverage "entanglement"—a foundational correlation where the state of one qubit inherently uncovers the state of another, irrespective of physical observation. These calculations happen on incredibly small Quantum Processing Units (QPUs) that require massive cooling systems to maintain temperatures near absolute zero, effectively eliminating environmental noise that induces computational errors.

Instead of completely replacing classical computers, which already excel at daily orchestration, quantum processors will enable a "hybrid computing architecture" designed for uniquely complex, computationally heavy tasks. Key real-world applications include solving sophisticated "optimization problems" (like mitigating cascading train network delays) and running precise "molecular simulation" to accelerate healthcare breakthroughs and battery development. Nature natively seeks its minimum energy state, a trait quantum processing natively harnesses to navigate and minimize error rates across vast topological datasets far faster than any classical algorithm could manage.

Most significantly, quantum computing poses an escalating threat to modern cybersecurity. As algorithms mature, they will easily break standard RSA encryption. Although quantum maturity isn't slated to hit widespread production milestones until approximately 2030, adversaries are already utilizing "harvest now, decrypt later" strategies—intercepting secure communications today to decrypt them as soon as quantum power scales. Consequently, it is an urgent enterprise imperative to modernize current tech stacks with "post-quantum cryptography," ensuring sensitive systems are shielded well before quantum-enabled decryption hits the mainstream.

**Keywords:** quantum computing, qubits, superposition, quantum entanglement, hadamard gate, post-quantum cryptography, shor's algorithm, optimization problems, molecular simulation, quantum channels, RSA encryption, absolute zero cooling, hybrid computing architecture, hardware error correction

## Chapters

1. **Physical structure and cooling systems of a quantum computer** (00:02) — How quantum processing units rely on extreme cooling environments to reduce environmental calculation noise.
1. **Understanding qubits, superposition, and quantum state probabilities** (01:20) — How qubits exist in a probabilistic superposition before measurement collapses them into binary states.
1. **Manipulating computational probabilities with quantum logic gates** (04:48) — How applying operations like Hadamard and NOT gates changes the likelihood of qubit measurement outcomes.
1. **Explaining quantum entanglement and correlated particle states** (06:36) — How entangling separate qubits allows the measurement of one to instantly determine the state of another.
1. **Executing tasks across classical and quantum computing systems** (09:48) — How classical computers handle data orchestration while quantum machines resolve intensive backend calculations.
1. **Solving optimization and simulation problems with nature's efficiency** (11:18) — How mapping energy landscapes optimizes neural network error rates and models molecular structures.
1. **Building quantum networks and mitigating future cryptographic vulnerabilities** (14:48) — How satellite-based quantum channels share one-time pads and mandate modernizing systems against Shor's algorithm defenses.
1. **Tracking corporate investments, patents, and hardware development roadmaps** (18:25) — How massive funding and combining physical qubits into logical ones drive error-corrected hardware progression.
1. **Projecting mainstream adoption timelines and societal impact milestones** (20:49) — How incremental hardware improvements point to targeted disruption across materials and healthcare by 2030.
1. **Preparing enterprise technical stacks for the quantum era** (22:47) — How engineering teams can build post-quantum infrastructure boundaries and update computational mindsets.
1. **Addressing quantum enterprise pilots, LLM training, and security** (24:37) — Answers outlining current organizational implementations alongside long-term impacts on artificial intelligence and cryptography.

## Related Moments

- [Addressing the critical ethical implications of quantum optimization capabilities](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1096-architecting-the-future-leveraging-ai-cloud-and-data-for-business-success) (from "Architecting the Future: Leveraging AI, Cloud, and Data for Business Success")
- [Practical applications and hybrid solutions for quantum computing advantage](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1693-quantum-tech-preparing-for-the-next-leap) (from "Quantum Tech: Preparing for the Next Leap")
- [Preparing for quantum resilience and post-quantum cryptography](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100257-colorful-quantum-randomness) (from "Colorful quantum randomness")
- [Practical applications of quantum computing and cryptography](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/672-going-quantum-the-future-of-the-internet) (from "Going Quantum: The future of the internet ...")
- [Preparing blockchain protocols for quantum computing threats](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1368-solving-real-world-problems-with-blockchain-at-algorand-brian-whippo) (from "Solving Real-world Problems with Blockchain at Algorand - Brian Whippo")
- [Current state of quantum computing capabilities](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100257-colorful-quantum-randomness) (from "Colorful quantum randomness")

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