Quantum Computing: The Next Great Leap
Date Posted: November 6, 2025
Posted In: Discussion,
From Bob Clark Beyond: Every so often, humanity takes a leap that redefines what’s possible — the microprocessor, the internet, artificial intelligence. Now, we’re standing at the edge of another transformation that could change not just how we work, but how we think. Quantum computing feels like that next great leap.
Traditional processors have powered incredible progress, but they’re reaching their limits. Some problems, simulating new materials, securing data against quantum threats, optimizing complex global systems, simply outpace what even the fastest supercomputers can handle.
Quantum computing offers a fundamentally different approach. Instead of processing information in bits (ones and zeros), quantum computers use qubits, which can exist in multiple states at once. This isn’t about making today’s computers faster; it’s about tackling problems that were previously unsolvable.
That’s what makes PsiQuantum so exciting to watch. The company recently raised $1 billion in new funding, valuing it at about $7 billion, to accelerate its goal of building the world’s first fault-tolerant, million-qubit quantum computer. What’s unique is their photonic approach, using light as the foundation for qubits on silicon photonic chips.
This allows PsiQuantum to leverage existing semiconductor manufacturing, addressing one of the most significant challenges in the field: scalability. They’ve also broken ground on a new facility on the South side of Chicago, at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, co-developed by Related Midwest and CRG, Clayco, and LJC, leading the design. This project will anchor their first U.S.-based quantum computer and help establish Chicago as a hub for quantum innovation.