Quantum Computing Digest — Late 2017

By late 2017, quantum technology had moved out of speculative isolation and into early strategic planning across security, software, and communications. While scalable quantum computers remained elusive, governments, enterprises, and researchers were already preparing for downstream consequences.

Security Planning Enters the Quantum Conversation

Cybersecurity concerns framed much of the public debate. An analysis published by Wired positioned quantum computingas a long-term yet inevitable security issue. The article explained how algorithms capable of factoring large integers could compromise RSA and elliptic-curve encryption, highlighting the risk of encrypted data being harvested today and decrypted later. The piece helped shift discussion toward cryptographic transition planning, emphasizing governance, inventory, and migration timelines rather than speculative hardware milestones.

Software Built Ahead of Hardware

While quantum computing threats to cybersecurity were begining to catch notice, software development was advancing faster than machines themselves. MIT Technology Review examined why quantum programming languages were already under development despite limited hardware availability. The article argued that abstractions, error models, and developer workflows must mature well before large-scale systems arrive. Drawing parallels with early classical computing, it suggested today’s software choices will shape how quantum computers are ultimately used.

Microsoft reinforced this software-first approach with the release of a public preview of its Quantum Development Kit, detailed on the Microsoft AI Blog. The kit introduced the Q# language, quantum simulators, and integration with Visual Studio, allowing developers to explore quantum algorithms without direct access to hardware. The emphasis was on building developer familiarity and tooling maturity, signaling workforce readiness was already a priority.

Quantum Communication Shows Traction

Quantum communication showed more immediate technical traction than software, programming, or security. A year-in-review feature from Science News highlighted progress in quantum key distribution, including fiber-based networks and satellite experiments. The developments suggested secure quantum networking would reach operational use sooner than general-purpose quantum computing.

Canada’s space-based efforts illustrated this trajectory. An overview from the Canadian Space Agency described the QEYSSat mission; a system designed to test quantum key distribution between satellites and ground stations. The mission highlighted how quantum technologies were already intersecting with national communications infrastructure and space systems.

Policy, Governance, and Long-Term Coordination

Policy coordination also gained momentum. Coverage by Engadget detailed Europe’s ten-year quantum computing roadmap, emphasizing long-term funding alignment, cross-border research coordination, and industrial participation. Rather than promising near-term deliverables, the roadmap focused on continuity, governance, and workforce development as strategic priorities.

Enterprise and advisory communities were taking note as well. Deloitte’s 2018 Tech Trends report placed quantum computing among exponential technologies which warranted executive awareness, even if deployment remained distant. Legal perspectives delivered a cautionary stance. A commentary from Proskauer’s New Media & Technology Law Blog referenced quantum computing as a factor in future regulatory and compliance planning rather than an immediate operational concern.

Cross-Pollination From Classical Computing

Finally, some of the most influential work shaping expectations for advanced computation was not explicitly quantum. The arXiv paper “Attention Is All You Need” introduced the transformer architecture, later foundational to large-scale machine learning. Its relevance to quantum discourse reflected growing interest in hybrid computational models and cross-pollination between classical and quantum research.

Together, these developments show 2017 marked a shift toward structured readiness. Even without mature hardware, security planning, software tooling, communication infrastructure, and policy frameworks were already taking shape.