Quantum computers still can’t do useful work—despite the hype

Quantum computers remain glorified paperweights for now, despite a flurry of announcements this summer. Microsoft’s new Majorana 2 chip and President Trump’s executive order promising a “powerful enough” machine by 2028 underscore the gap between ambition and reality—today’s devices can’t yet solve a commercially relevant problem.

The hardware leap vs. the use case lag

Microsoft’s Majorana 2 is framed as a step forward for quantum hardware, leveraging topological qubits that the company claims improve stability. Yet stability alone doesn’t translate into practical applications. The chip joins a crowded field of experimental processors, none of which have delivered a clear commercial or scientific advantage over classical supercomputers. The disconnect between hardware advances and deliverable outcomes continues to widen.

Policy meets hype in a high-stakes race

The White House’s June 22 directive accelerates US quantum initiatives, positioning the technology as a critical frontier in the rivalry with China. While competition drives investment, it also risks overshadowing the current limitations of quantum systems. Policymakers and corporations alike are betting on breakthroughs they cannot yet guarantee—raising questions about whether the rush to deploy is premature.

For now, quantum computing remains a solution in search of a problem. The industry’s next milestone will be less about announcing new chips or deadlines, and more about proving those chips can actually do something no ordinary computer can.

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Source: The Verge. AI-assisted editorial synthesis — TechnoExpress.