Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) has condensed its commercial quantum timeline and now expects to integrate quantum computing technology directly into data center infrastructure by 2029.
Zulfi Alam, Microsoft's corporate vice president of Quantum, told CNBC that he has confidence in this timeline during recent industry discussions.
"I would not be able to say this with this much clarity last year, but this year, I can state to claim that by 2029 you will have machines that will have commercial [value], meaning that they will be doing calculations that classical machines cannot do," said Alam.
According to Alam, the hybrid quantum-classical computing systems will mark the shift from experimental research to the practical deployment of resilient quantum systems.
"By the end of the decade, we are confident that we will have machines in data centers that have commercial value," Alam told CNBC.
Quantum Stocks to Watch
Investors tracking the quantum sector can look beyond the tech giants to pure-play companies that are also hitting critical milestones in the lead-up to 2030.
IonQ, Inc. (NYSE:IONQ): IonQ utilizes trapped-ion technology and has achieved high fidelity with its Tempo system. It has one of the strongest cash positions in the industry following several strategic acquisitions.
D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE:QBTS): D-Wave specializes in quantum annealing, a method particularly suited for optimization problems in logistics and finance.
Rigetti Computing, Inc. (NASDAQ:RGTI): Rigetti focuses on superconducting qubits and provides a full-stack approach, offering both hardware and a cloud-based integration platform for enterprise users.
Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:QUBT): This firm develops nanophotonic-based quantum solutions and focuses on low-power, room-temperature hardware that can be deployed in existing server environments.
Infleqtion, Inc. (NYSE:INFQ): The newest player in the sector went public via its merger with Churchill Capital Corp X on Tuesday, becoming the first neutral-atom quantum company to list in the U.S.
Infleqtion builds quantum computers, quantum optical clocks, RF receivers and inertial sensors and its systems are already deployed with the U.S. Department of War, NASA and the U.K. government.
Photo: Dragon Claws / Shutterstock
