31% of adults think quantum computing is science fiction

Nearly one in three UK adults (31%) believe quantum computing is science fiction, according to new research from Thales, despite organisations around the world already preparing for its potential cyber security implications.

The survey of 2,000 UK adults found widespread misunderstanding around quantum computing, with 20% believing quantum computing and AI were the same technologies.

The findings suggest that while AI continues to dominate public discussion, awareness of quantum computing, and its implications for cyber security, remains limited.

In particular, many Brits are unaware of the potential impact quantum advances could have on today’s encryption methods:

• 50% are unaware that future quantum computers could challenge some of today’s encryption methods
• 48% are unaware that quantum advances could make some current security protections obsolete
• 47% do not realise future advances could potentially expose data encrypted today
• 44% are unaware that quantum computing could create new cyber security risks

Quantum-enabled attacks

The research comes as organisations increasingly prepare for the transition to post-quantum cryptography (PQC), designed to protect sensitive information against future quantum-enabled attacks.