Quantum computers: Myths and truths with Dr. Mark Mattingley-Scott

Let's Talk Straight! Misconception About the Quantum Computer—Wishful Thinking And Reality

2025-11-13 Source: Peter Königsreuther | Translated by AI 4 min Reading Time

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The European head of Quantum Brilliance, Dr. Mark Mattingley-Scott, wants to clearly explain here what quantum computers can and cannot do ...

Quantum computers are as mysterious as systems from old science fiction films or ideas from Jules Verne. They are widely rumored to be changing the future of computer technology. Here, however, an expert wants to clarify what is really going on ...(Image: IBM) — Quantum computers are as mysterious as systems from old science fiction films or ideas from Jules Verne. They are widely rumored to be changing the future of computer technology. Here, however, an expert wants to clarify what is really going on ...
(Image: IBM)

This year's Nobel Prize in Physics has brought the topic of quantum computing even more into the public eye. However, there are numerous myths circulating about the functionality and potential of this complex technology, which Dr. Mark Mattingley-Scott, European head of Quantum Brilliance, a German-Australian manufacturer of quantum hardware, wants to dispel in order to clarify what can and cannot really be expected from it. To be more precise, he dispels seven myths about quantum computers.

Myth 1: Quantum Computers Are Superior to Classical Computers!

According to Mattingley-Scott, this is not correct as a blanket statement. The decisive factor is the area of application. For example, common office software cannot be run on a quantum computer. However, when it comes to finding answers to problems by calculating complex probability distributions, quantum computers have massive advantages over conventional computers with their binary basis.

Myth 2: Quantum Computers Can Calculate And Deliver Everything in Parallel!

This is not 100 percent correct, Mattingley-Scott makes clear, because a quantum computer does not create a mysterious new dimension in which everything runs in parallel. However, quantum computers are very efficient at calculating complex probabilities, as already mentioned in Myth 1. This is because they use superposition and can therefore represent many possible states simultaneously. However, this does not mean that they can "calculate" all possible answers in parallel and automatically output all results at the end. This is because when measuring, the quantum state collapses into exactly one solution (Heisenberg sends his regards!). The advantage therefore only arises through quantum algorithms that specifically use interference to increase the probability of the correct or useful solution while suppressing others.

Myth 3: Qubits, Unlike Bits, Can Store An Unlimited Amount of Information!

According to the expert, qubits do not "store" information in the conventional sense. What grows exponentially with their number, however, is the state space, i.e. the space of all possible superpositions and entanglements. For example, 32 qubits span a state space of 232 dimensions, which corresponds to around 4.3 billion basic states. However, this does not mean that all this information can be stored or read out at the same time, because when measuring, you only ever get a result with a length of 32 bits, as Mattingley-Scott explains.

Contents of the article:

Page 1: Misconception About the Quantum Computer—Wishful Thinking And Reality
Page 2: 4th Myth: Quantum Computers Need An Insane Amount of Cooling!

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Date: 08.12.2025

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