← Home
The Vergecast · July 9, 2026 · 28m

Time to believe the quantum computing hype?

Science journalist Sophia Chen joins the show to cut through the quantum computing hype. Bold timelines from the White House and Microsoft are colliding with a new paper accusing the latter of exaggeration, while the industry still lacks a practical killer app. The conversation walks through the real state of the technology, the overblown promises, and the parallel race to develop quantum-safe cryptography before the threat materializes.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

Aggressive timelines fuel quantum hype
Politicians and corporations are setting near-term deadlines for useful quantum computers: Trump promises one by 2028, Microsoft by 2029, and IBM is pouring billions into the effort.
Current quantum computers have no practical use
Guest Sophia Chen’s article argues that, despite enormous investment, today’s quantum computers cannot yet solve any real-world problem better than classical machines—the state she summarizes as 'absolutely nothing — yet.'
Paper accuses Microsoft of exaggerating quantum claims
The show notes reference a new paper that argues Microsoft overstated its progress on topological qubits a year ago, feeding into broader concerns about hype.
Race for quantum-safe cryptography heats up
As quantum computing threats loom, governments and companies are accelerating the development of quantum-resistant encryption standards.
Was this useful?