Quantum computing is a revolutionary form of technology that has the potential to solve many previously unsolvable problems. The field has seen astonishing progress in recent years, as private companies like Google, IBM, and Intel have been at the forefront of the race to create functional quantum processors that can perform calculations beyond our wildest dreams. The developments that have been made recently in this regard deserve further discussion as they could have tremendous implications for the future of humanity as a whole.
In particular, one of the most astounding achievements that have recently been made in the field of quantum computing is what Google has been calling "quantum supremacy." Google announced in 2019 that its quantum computer had performed a calculation that would take the world's fastest supercomputer, which is not available to the public, exponentially more time to complete. While the assertion itself is rather dubious, it does highlight the potential of quantum computers to truly revolutionize our world for the better. Quantum computers are still far from being able to achieve this kind of quantum supremacy, but the fact that we might be closer to that reality than ever before should not be understated.
As stated, quantum computers have the potential to surpass almost everything else we have at our disposal in terms of processing power. The implications of that potential have been long-postulated but are only starting to become tangible now that the technology is becoming available. One can only imagine the sheer number of previously unsolvable problems that could be addressed with functional quantum computers, and humanity could be meaningfully close to that prospect in the not-too-distant future.