IT IS not just artificial intelligence that is sparking(引发，激起) hopes of an imminent(即将发生的，迫近的) productivity miracle. Quantum computing, another long-promised technology, is also making progress and attracting serious interest. Investment in startups in the field rose six-fold in 2025, to $13bn, according to McKinsey, a consultancy. Both startups and tech titans(科技巨头) are racing to exploit the technology. In May the Trump administration pledged(承诺，保证) $2bn to take equity stakes(收购股权) in nine quantum-computing companies.
不仅仅是人工智能点燃了人们对即将到来的生产力奇迹的希望。量子计算，另一项长期被承诺的技术，也在取得进展并吸引着严肃的关注。据咨询公司麦肯锡称，2025年该领域初创公司的投资增长了六倍，达到130亿美元。初创公司和科技巨头都在竞相开发这项技术。今年5月，特朗普政府承诺投入20亿美元，收购九家量子计算公司的股权。
Quantum computers exploit(利用，开发) the weird physics of quantum mechanics to perform some types of calculations at breathtaking speed. Jobs that would take ordinary, “classical” computers billions of years might be polished off(迅速完成，干掉) in just a few hours. But whereas AI is a general-purpose technology that promises to transform many fields of endeavour, the mathematical superpowers of quantum computers are likely to help in only a few areas, such as making possible rigorous digital simulations of complex physics and chemistry.(但是，虽然人工智能是一种通用技术，有望改变许多努力领域，但量子计算机的数学超能力可能只会在少数领域发挥作用，例如实现对复杂物理和化学的严格数字模拟。) For many tasks, quantum computers will offer no improvement at all over cheaper ordinary machines.
量子计算机利用量子力学奇特的物理原理，以惊人的速度执行某些类型的计算。普通“经典”计算机需要数十亿年才能完成的任务，可能只需几个小时就能搞定。但是，虽然人工智能是一种通用技术，有望改变许多努力领域，但量子计算机的数学超能力可能只会在少数领域发挥作用，例如实现对复杂物理和化学的严格数字模拟。对于许多任务，量子计算机相比更便宜的普通机器根本不会带来任何改进。
In one area, though, they are certain to make a world of difference(产生巨大影响)—and perhaps turn out to be destructive(破坏性的). The security and privacy of global commerce and communication depend on forms of encryption that would take classical computers billions of years to crack(破解，攻破). A powerful quantum computer might break such codes in just a few minutes, using an algorithm that has already been designed. On “Q-day(量子计算突破日)”, as geeks call it, the encryption methods that permit everything from credit-card details to racy(露骨的，挑逗性的) photos to be securely and privately transmitted will no longer be safe to use.
然而，在一个领域，它们肯定会带来翻天覆地的变化——甚至可能是破坏性的。全球商业和通信的安全与隐私依赖于经典计算机需要数十亿年才能破解的加密形式。一台强大的量子计算机可能只需几分钟就能破解这些密码，使用的是一种已经设计好的算法。在极客们所谓的“Q日”，那些允许从信用卡详细信息到艳照等一切内容安全私密传输的加密方法将不再安全。