Quantum computing is finally getting real, and Microsoft just dropped a bombshell with their new chip, the Majorana 1. This thing is wild, it allegedly uses a brand-new state of matter, which is already insane, but the real question is: what does it actually do? Everyone loves to talk about quantum computing like it’s some kind of magic future tech, but let’s break it down from first principles. What problems does it actually solve? Turns out, there are five big ones: number factoring (which is a game changer for cryptography), quantum simulations (think real-world chemistry at an atomic level), complex optimization (AI training on steroids), unstructured search (sorting through messy data in ways classical computers never could), and massive linear systems (so, basically, solving physics at insane scales). And once you connect the dots on what that means, the ripple effects are huge—everything from breaking encryption to curing diseases to revolutionizing supply chains.

But that’s just first-order consequences. What happens when those effects start stacking? A global security race kicks off, medical advancements skyrocket, AI goes supercharged, and logistics become so efficient that shortages could become a thing of the past. Fast forward even further, and we’re talking real sci-fi-level stuff—fusion energy, space colonization, predictive economies, maybe even life extension. And here’s the kicker: it could go two very different ways. Either quantum levels the playing field, decentralizing power forever, or it locks everything down in a hyper-controlled, cyberpunk-style world. Microsoft, Google, and a handful of others are racing to build these things, but what happens when they actually work? Best-case scenario, we get limitless energy and a medical revolution. Worst case? The internet as we know collapses overnight.

If you liked this episode, Follow the podcast to keep up with the AI Masterclass.

Turn on the notifications for the latest developments in AI.

Find David Shapiro on: Patreon: https://patreon.com/daveshap (Discord via Patreon)

Substack: https://daveshap.substack.com (Free Mailing List)

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dave-shap-automator

GitHub: https://github.com/daveshap

--------------------------------

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices