The evolving landscape of quantum computing

In the previous episode of the Energy Transition Talks series, Maida Zahid sat down with quantum computing expert Curtis Nybo to explore the challenges, benefits, and future of this emerging technology. In this second instalment of the conversation, Curtis moves from theory to practice, focusing on energy optimization, logistics, cybersecurity and business applications for quantum computing across industries.

Overcoming challenges: The race to stable qubits

Quantum computing faces several hurdles, with coherence times being one of the biggest. Qubits, the building blocks of quantum computers, remain stable only for a limited time before randomly collapsing into a 0 or 1 state. This leads to unreliable results, making error correction and shielding from radiation in our everyday environment critical in quantum hardware development.

Another challenge is the limited number of qubits available today. While large-scale quantum solutions require thousands of qubits, the most advanced machines currently operate with only a few hundred, restricting their problem-solving capabilities.

Optimizing supply chains with quantum computing

Quantum computing is revolutionizing supply chain logistics and optimization. Curtis highlights that quantum annealing computers are being used to optimize complex logistical processes, such as:

  • Route optimization – Determining the most efficient way for delivery trucks to distribute fuel or goods while factoring in weather conditions and constraints.
  • Demand forecasting – Predicting where materials need to be and at what time to prevent supply chain disruptions.
  • Electricity distribution – Quantum computing could optimize energy distribution as effectively as logistics routing.
     

"From optimizing supply chains to predicting energy demand, quantum computing gives us the ability to solve problems we never could before." 

The quantum threat and promise in cybersecurity

One of the most talked-about implications of quantum computing is its impact on cybersecurity. Today’s encryption relies on RSA cryptography, which is based on factoring large prime numbers—a nearly impossible task for classical computers. However, quantum computers equipped with Shor’s algorithm could break RSA encryption, posing a significant security risk.

While this capability does not yet exist, the concern is that data stolen today could be decrypted years down the line once quantum hardware advances. In response, organizations are already exploring quantum-resistant encryption methods, such as quantum key distribution (QKD) and lattice-based cryptography, to safeguard future security.

Business benefits: Making quantum computing accessible

For businesses, the main advantage of quantum computing is solving highly complex optimization problems that classical computers struggle with. Curtis emphasized that quantum computing is ideal for scenarios involving multiple variables and constraints, such as:

  • Fleet scheduling – Managing transportation logistics efficiently.
  • Workforce planning – Balancing work schedules, fuel constraints, and delivery windows.
  • Energy management – Optimizing renewable energy distribution based on fluctuating supply and demand.

The quantum revolution is here: Key areas to watch

Quantum computing is still in its early stages, but progress is accelerating. Key advancements include:

  • Error correction breakthroughs – Improving the stability of qubits for longer, resulting in more accurate computations.
  • Expanding quantum hardware capabilities – Companies like D-Wave, Google, IonQ, and Rigetti are racing to achieve quantum supremacy, where quantum computers outperform classical machines in specific tasks.
  • Cloud-based access – Quantum computing is no longer just for researchers. Platforms like Azure Quantum, AWS Braket, and D-Wave’s cloud services allow businesses to experiment with quantum computing today.
     

"Despite being in its early stages, quantum computing is already accessible via the cloud. The best way to prepare is to start exploring it now." 

While quantum computing still faces hurdles, its potential is too significant to ignore. As Curtis underscores, quantum computing is no longer just theoretical—it is becoming a practical tool for businesses, particularly in energy, logistics and security. Organizations should start exploring quantum computing today to prepare for its inevitable impact.

Listen to other podcasts in this series to learn more about the energy transition

Read the transcript

Introduction

Maida Zahid:
Hi everybody, welcome back to another episode of the Energy Transition Talks podcast. My name is Maida Zahid, and I'm part of the marketing team here at CGI in Canada. Today, we will be revisiting our conversation on quantum computing, and I'm joined by our Canadian expert, Curtis Nybo, who is our lead for quantum computing here in Canada and also leads some of our AI and data analytics practices. Over to you, Curtis.

Challenges in quantum computing

Curtis Nybo:
There's a lot of challenges that come with quantum computing. One of which is coherence. We have set coherence times that a qubit can remain stable before it automatically collapses to a state of zero or one. We want to be able to induce and measure that state on our own accord rather than having it collapse randomly.

And that's called coherence times. Right now, we're seeing short coherence times where qubits only remain stable for a certain amount of time before they randomly collapse with a 50-50 chance of becoming a zero or a one, which leads to unreliable results. Handling decoherence is one of the big challenges, and increasing error correction capabilities is crucial to ensuring that quantum computers produce more accurate results.

Currently, quantum computing is also highly prone to noise. Any bit of radiation that reaches the quantum chip can randomly flip qubits. This requires extensive shielding to protect against radiation. Additionally, there are only so many qubits available on quantum computing chips. Solving large-scale problems often requires thousands of qubits, whereas today’s top quantum computers have between 50 and a few hundred qubits, depending on the architecture.

Benefits of quantum computing in supply chains and logistics

Maida Zahid:
That's very cool. Before we move on to more challenges, I want to revisit the benefits of quantum computing. Beyond energy and utilities, supply chain and logistics are major industries facing optimization challenges. How can quantum computing help?

Curtis Nybo:
That’s actually the area I spend most of my time in—optimization. We often use quantum annealing computers to optimize processes for different clients and solve different problems. In logistics and supply chain, optimization applies to fuel procurement, electricity distribution and infrastructure maintenance—anywhere you’re having to plan.

One common use case is route optimization. For example, in the traveling salesman problem, imagine managing a fleet of 300 fuel trucks delivering to 2,000 depots. The challenge is determining the most efficient routes while factoring in variables like weather conditions. This type of complex problem is difficult for classical computers, whereas quantum annealing computers are well-suited for solving it.

Another area is demand forecasting. We’ve done quite a bit of work around predictive analytics to determine where materials should be at specific times. It’s very similar to the route optimization problem, but focuses on anticipating supply and demand fluctuations.

Electricity distribution is another interesting potential area for quantum computing that I've thought about, but we haven't had a chance to implement it. But it would be a similar optimization problem to that route optimization.

Quantum computing in cybersecurity

Maida Zahid:
That’s very cool. Another critical challenge organizations face is cybersecurity. How does quantum computing play a role in cybersecurity?

Curtis Nybo:
Cybersecurity is one of the most well-known applications of quantum computing. Right now, most online encryption relies on RSA cryptography, which is based on generating large prime numbers and multiplying them together. Breaking this encryption requires factoring those large numbers, which is incredibly difficult for classical computers.

However, Shor’s algorithm, a quantum algorithm, allows quantum computers to efficiently factor large numbers. While this hasn’t been possible yet—because we don’t have quantum computers powerful enough to run Shor’s algorithm at scale—this poses a future threat. The concern is that encrypted data could be stolen today and decrypted in the future when quantum computers become more powerful. Even if data is old, personal information like social security numbers remains valuable.

Fortunately, quantum computing also enables quantum-resistant encryption methods, such as quantum key distribution (QKD) and lattice-based cryptography. These methods aim to create encryption that is resistant to quantum attacks. In the coming years, we expect to see a transition toward quantum-safe encryption frameworks.

Communicating quantum benefits to businesses

Maida Zahid:
When talking to business-focused clients, how do you explain the benefits of quantum computing in simple terms? What industries benefit the most?

Curtis Nybo:
For energy and utilities, the most common benefit is optimization. Many companies run computational models that take hours or even days to complete. Quantum computing, especially quantum annealing, can significantly reduce processing time.

However, a good problem for quantum computing isn’t just one with a lot of data; it’s one with many variables and constraints. A good example is scheduling problems—like optimizing a fleet of trucks with constraints like driver work hours, fuel consumption limits, and traffic conditions. Quantum computers can process these complex variables more efficiently than classical computers.

The future of quantum computing

Maida Zahid:
Where do you see quantum computing heading in the energy and utilities sector? Are we still in the early stages?

Curtis Nybo:
Yes, we’re still in the early stages, but progress is accelerating. One of the biggest challenges is error correction and increasing coherence times, which will improve the stability and accuracy of quantum computations.

We’re also seeing rapid advancements in quantum hardware. Companies like Google, IonQ, and Rigetti are competing to achieve quantum supremacy, meaning their quantum computers can solve problems faster than classical computers.

Another major shift is the accessibility of quantum computing. Quantum computing is now available through cloud platforms like Azure Quantum, AWS Braket, and D-Wave’s cloud services. This means businesses can start experimenting with quantum solutions today, even if large-scale adoption is still a few years away.

Conclusion and key takeaways

Maida Zahid:
Well, I think we covered a lot today. Thanks so much for your time, Curtis. Any final thoughts before we wrap up?

Curtis Nybo:
I think we touched on a lot of important aspects of quantum computing. My advice is to dive right in. Many quantum capabilities are already accessible, and experimenting with quantum problem-solving is the best way to start understanding the technology.

Maida Zahid:
Thanks so much, Curtis. Thanks for joining us, and thanks to everyone for listening. Please subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for tuning in!

Curtis Nybo:
Awesome.