Today we are living in a big data world. It keeps getting bigger and there is no end to it. This exponential growth of data comes both with opportunities and challenges. These two sides could be parallel and intersecting where addressing certain challenges could lead to even more opportunities and so on.

Tapping into these countless opportunities, for the benefit of all, requires mastery over the art of leveraging the true potential of big data. It is this very quest to unlock big data which keeps scientists and engineers on their toes to explore, innovate and invent machines that could really help to process this intelligently and fast.

With their tremendous computing power, quantum computers are today able to execute algorithms more efficiently than classical or even supercomputers to help solve previously unsolved problems–bringing the future into reality.

At the heart of quantum computers are quantum bits or qubits, the fundamental unit of information in quantum computing, through which they have established their supremacy. Unlike binary 1 or 0 bits, quantum bits or qubits can exist as a ‘superposition’ of both 1 and 0. The use of the laws of quantum mechanics allows qubits to encode some calculations exponentially faster than even supercomputers where bits hold the reins of power.

Quantum computing is still in a nascent stage and a lot remains to be explored. However, the following example will help explain how quantum computing is going to transform our world in the not-too-distant future.

According to IBM, a simple battery is more like a complex ecosystem and there isn’t a supercomputer on the plane right now that could accurately simulate what is going inside a battery. Mercedes-Benz, with focus on next generation battery technology, has turned to IBM Quantum to explore how they can simulate the chemical reactions in batteries more accurately in order to further explore new materials to create more efficient batteries. With the aim to reduce carbon impact on the planet, their goal is to turn the entire Mercedes-Benz vehicle fleet carbon neutral by the year 2039.

Quantum computing isn’t just about future cars as it also holds promise to reshape different sectors and industries including the healthcare industry. As per IBM, in the healthcare industry quantum computing could enable a range of disruptive use cases for providers and health plans by accelerating diagnoses, personalizing medicine, and optimizing pricing.