Quantum Isn’t What They Told You
I’ve spent years trying to understand quantum computing.
And by years, I mean I’ve read a bunch of articles, stared at equations like a dog watching TV, and then quietly gave up…
Assuming it’s all just some elaborate prank by physicists to make us feel stupid.
But I refuse to be outsmarted by Schrödinger’s cat (which, by the way, is both dead and alive until you check—whatever that means).
So, I brought in the big guns on my podcast: Nicolas Alexandre Roussy Newton and Gavin Brennen.
Nicolas is the co-founder of BTQ Technologies, a company dealing with quantum security. Gavin is a theoretical physicist and professor at Macquarie University in Sydney, who specializes in, well, quantum stuff.
And they tried—very patiently—to explain it to me.
So here’s what I learned, without my brain melting in the process.
(To REALLY understand it, you have to listen to the full podcast. Link below.)
Quantum Computing for Dummies
Think of a normal computer like a librarian.
You ask her to find a book, and she walks through the aisles one by one, checking each shelf until she finds it.
Slow, methodical, reliable.
A quantum computer? Imagine the librarian cloning herself into a massive swarm, each version of her looking at different shelves simultaneously—but with a catch.
The clones don’t just instantly find the book. Instead, they work in a way where the wrong clones cancel each other out, and the right clone is made stronger, into a super clone.
(Yes, this is oversimplified. Yes, real physicists would probably throw me out of the room. But hey, we’re just trying to survive here.)
The key to all this is something called superposition—which means that instead of just being a 0 or a 1, a quantum bit (qubit, or a super librarian clone) can be both at the same time.
This lets quantum computers solve certain problems exponentially faster than regular ones.
BUT… here’s what most people get wrong.
3 Lies the Media Tells
For one, there’s a popular belief that quantum computers will speed up everything.
The truth: they only provide an exponential advantage for specific problems (e.g., cryptography, materials science).
Most everyday computing tasks won’t benefit. Quantum computers will NOT replace regular computers.
Second thing: many imagine a quantum computer can solve problems by looking at all answers simultaneously.
That’s not exactly right.
While they leverage superposition, they don’t just magically find answers. Without the right quantum algorithm, they produce useless noise instead of correct solutions.
The trick is in interference, where wrong answers cancel out and the right ones remain.
Third, everyone thinks quantum computers are a threat to encryption.
In reality, quantum cryptography could create unbreakable encryption. Meaning, quantum security is both the problem and the solution.
So What? Why Should I Care?
Because, despite these misconceptions, quantum computers could break cyberspace.
And not in the viral, Kardashian way.
More like, “Oops, all your passwords and encrypted data are now public knowledge” kind of way.
Current encryption relies on math problems that are practically impossible for regular computers to solve—like factoring enormous prime numbers.
But quantum computers? They eat prime numbers for breakfast.
They’ll be able to crack standard encryption in no time. Meaning: Bitcoin wallets, bank accounts, government secrets—poof.
Wide open.
This is why BTQ Technologies exists. Nicolas and his team are working on quantum-safe cryptography, which is a fancy way of saying, “Let’s fix this before we all get robbed by future quantum hackers.”
And governments are taking it seriously—there’s already a push to update security standards before it’s too late.
AI, Crypto, and the Quantum Future
Now, where does AI fit into all this? Well, quantum computers could supercharge AI, making it vastly more powerful.
Imagine AI models that can crunch through data, simulate the stock market, or even generate entire universes in a fraction of the time.
But crypto? Crypto is in trouble—unless it evolves.
Bitcoin, Ethereum, and every other blockchain currently rely on encryption that a powerful quantum computer could obliterate.
Companies like BTQ are developing new cryptographic techniques that can withstand quantum attacks. Because if they don’t? Say goodbye to decentralized finance and digital sovereignty.
Should We Be Excited or Terrified?
Both.
Quantum computing is like discovering fire. It’s going to change everything—but it might also burn down everything we’ve built if we’re not careful.
The good news? Quantum computers are still in their infancy.
Right now, the most powerful ones have about 100 qubits. To break Bitcoin, they’d need millions. So we have some time.
The bad news?
Countries are already hoarding encrypted data today, planning to decrypt it later when quantum computers get strong enough. So yeah, the clock is ticking.
What You Need to Know Now
If you’re a bank, a government, or literally anyone who values privacy, you should probably start paying attention.
If you’re into AI, get ready for it to accelerate in ways we don’t expect.
For now, I’ll keep trying to wrap my head around this stuff.
We packed a LOT into this conversation.
Why does Google’s latest quantum breakthrough make the NSA nervous?
What mistake did even top physicists make when predicting how fast quantum computers would advance?
Can Bitcoin and blockchain survive the rise of quantum computing—or is it doomed?
Is there a secret quantum “arms race” happening between global superpowers?
There’s only one place to get the full story:
