Quantum computing has been theorized and talked about for years. And as the technology and infrastructure are improving, bringing technology ever closer to achieving quantum computing, many companies are coming to two realizations: They need quantum and they aren’t ready for it.

A new study from quantum computing provider QuEra Computing found that 62% of companies are reaching the limits of traditional computing—meaning they are more interested in quantum solutions out of necessity, not out of technological curiosity. And over half—56%—are actively engaged in exploring and experimenting with quantum computing.

But they’re hitting a wall. Just 13% have been able to do anything toward deployment. And only a quarter say they’re very well positioned to move forward with quantum right now. This seems like a lot, but it’s a 20% decline from a similar survey last year: 45% said they were ready at the beginning of 2025.

In this case, the wall they’re hitting might be the reality of what it really takes to be quantum-ready, combined with the feeling that actually having the opportunity to use quantum technology is coming soon—so projecting overconfidence now might end up hurting companies’ reputations. Eight in 10 people surveyed expect full quantum capability within the next decade, with more than half of those saying it will arrive by 2031.

“These findings collectively reinforce that the market is moving from experimentation toward evaluation, with greater emphasis on realism and applicability,” the report states.

So what can companies do? Prepare for quantum computing now. Hire new employees who are already connected with quantum, and provide training and education on it for current staffers. Assess your company’s quantum use cases and infrastructure needs, and figure out what will work and what will not. This way, when quantum computing becomes available, you’ll be ready to make the case for quick deployment.

Big technology moves need to be well-informed, and the last few years have been full of stories of companies that made the plunge into AI and regretted it. Companies need to spend time really evaluating AI solutions: What can it do, what won’t it do, and what problems are you hoping to solve? I spoke with Steve Wilson, chief AI and product officer at cybersecurity company Exabeam, about why companies are getting burned by what AI can’t do, and how you can curb your enthusiasm to meet the pace at which the technology will be reliable. An excerpt from our conversation is later in this newsletter.

This is the last week for nominations for Forbes AI 50. The eighth-annual list, in collaboration with sponsoring partner Mayfield, will recognize the most promising startups deploying artificial intelligence in financing, scientific discovery, construction and more. Nominations close on Friday, February 13.

To make AI work, everything from hardware to data to networks to software to cybersecurity must operate in harmony. This week, Cisco announced its latest suite of products to support agentic AI across the full spectrum. They launched both hardware: a new high-capability chip—the Cisco Silicon One G300—and upgrades to their networking infrastructure to handle AI-level demand, and software: new expansions to Cisco’s AgenticOps and AI Defense suites that enhance connectivity and cybersecurity.

Forbes senior contributor Tony Bradley writes that this new launch shows that Cisco believes the network will be at the center of AI development in the coming years. This suite is more about making your network cost effective than just AI-ready at any cost. You want your AI to be always available and ensure that your network can always handle it, avoiding expensive downtime or the need for continual upgrades. And the upgrades to cybersecurity and infrastructure management—which use AI to detect threats and identify areas that need attention—bring the job of governing the AI agents into a single integrated platform. Bradley writes that Cisco is showing that networking, security, observability and sovereignty are all part of the same platform now, no longer separate things.

As the U.S. strives for AI dominance, its tech companies seek to recruit the best and brightest prospects to move it forward. And after President Donald Trump dramatically raised fees for the H-1B visa program, long used by tech companies to attract promising workers from around the globe, the strategy still holds. Forbes senior contributor Stuart Anderson writes that more than 80% of........

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