Why Quantum Computers Won't Replace Your Laptop – Simon Fried (Classiq)
Innovation and Private Capital x auliumShow Notes
Quantum computing is no longer a lab curiosity—it's approaching commercial reality, and enterprises unprepared for the shift risk being left behind. Simon Fried from Classiq explains why 2026 is emerging as quantum's inflection point, and what businesses must understand now to build durable advantage in a space most still find impenetrable.
The conversation cuts through quantum hype to reveal a pragmatic roadmap: quantum processing units (QPUs) are the next "you" in the compute stack, complementing CPUs and GPUs rather than replacing them. Classiq's software abstracts the complexity of quantum hardware, allowing domain experts—chemists, quants, computational biologists—to develop quantum applications without needing PhDs in physics. The approach mirrors classical computing's evolution toward higher abstraction, enabling organizations to build reusable assets rather than throwaway experiments. Fried discusses why finance and simulation-heavy industries are early movers, how AI and quantum form a virtuous cycle, and the talent crunch threatening to bottleneck adoption as commercial quantum advantage arrives.
**Key Discussion Points:**
🧮 Quantum computers won't replace classical systems—they'll handle subroutines where QPUs deliver speed, accuracy, or cost advantages classical chips cannot match.
🔐 The decryption threat timeline keeps compressing; what seemed decades away now looms within years, forcing urgent post-quantum cryptography preparation.
💼 Early enterprise wins will be incremental—slightly better options pricing, marginally optimized portfolios—but enough to ignite competitive pressure across sectors.
🎓 The talent gap is acute: abstraction and agentic AI are the only scalable solutions to turn domain experts into quantum developers in weeks, not years.
📈 Over $230M raised, Classiq represents the most-funded quantum software company, signaling investor confidence that the software layer will capture lasting value as hardware commoditizes.
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About Simon Fried [VP Comm and BD at Classiq]:Vice President of Communications and Business Development at Classiq, where he has been since 2022, leading go-to-market strategy for the quantum software platform. He co-founded Nano Dimension, helping take the company through two NASDAQ listings over eleven years, ran go-to-market at MeaTech through its NASDAQ listing, co-founded Israel's first single malt whisky distillery, and spent over a decade on marketing strategy and applied behavioural economics at Mountainview Learning after starting his career at Michael Porter's Monitor Group.About Aulium:Aulium is a video show exploring Innovation and Private Capital, hosted by Thomas Viguier.Connect with us:➡ Aulium on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aulium➡ Thomas Viguier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tviguier/
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