Quantum Computing: The Dream That Might Never Come True?

Executive Summary 

• Revolut hit $1B profit on $4B revenue with 52.5M users; plans UK/Mexico banks.

• Global launch of 3D-printed shoes on May 2nd.

• Real estate startup Flow raised $100M+, now valued at $2.5B.

• Discussion: 100 years of quantum mechanics sparks debate on computing's potential.

News

 🏦 Revolut is doing very well. Link

• Revolut, the $45B neobank, reported a $1 billion profit for 2024, more than doubling its 2023 earnings.

• Growth metrics showed impressive gains, with customer numbers surging by 38% to reach a total of 52.5 million users globally, while revenues experienced a remarkable 72% increase, hitting the $4 billion mark, driven by diverse income streams.

• Looking ahead, Revolut outlined ambitious future plans that include launching fully licensed banks in key markets like the UK and Mexico, alongside setting a target to achieve 100 million customers worldwide, although a specific timeline for an IPO remains unconfirmed.

 👟 3-D printed shoes by Adidas. Link

• Adidas is globally launching its fully 3D-printed Climacool shoes on May 2nd for $140.

• Although it may seem like a marketing gimmick, there are many advantages to manufacturing shoes this way. The shape and size of the shoe can be customized for individual buyers ensuring a perfect fit (Adidas is not offering this for the Climacool) and the design can be easily refined over time by just modifying a 3D model.

🏠 Adam Neumann did it again. Link

• Flow, the residential real estate venture led by controversial former WeWork CEO Adam Neumann, has successfully secured over $100 million in fresh capital through its Series B funding round.

• This significant new investment elevates the company's valuation to an impressive $2.5 billion, a substantial figure considering Neumann's past.

• The startup's core mission involves developing branded, tech-integrated apartment living experiences designed as communities, with initial operational focus planned for key strategic locations including South Florida and expanding into international markets like Saudi Arabia.

Discussion

Quantum Computing: The Dream That Might Never Come True?

This year, 2025, marks the 100th anniversary of quantum mechanics. Since 1925, the likes of Werner Heisenberg and Erwin Schrödinger crystallised a new theory that explained the strange behaviours of atoms and subatomic particles, launching what many call physics’ “Darwinian moment”.

Over the past century, quantum mechanics has not only transformed science but also enabled technologies that power our daily lives, from lasers and semiconductors to smartphones and medical imaging. The field has also inspired a new wave of technological ambition: the quest to build quantum computers. Governments and industry have invested billions in this pursuit.

But as we celebrate a century of quantum mechanics, a pressing question lingers: Will this path lead us anywhere truly revolutionary, or are we chasing a quantum mirage?

One of the biggest challenges is the fragility of qubits, the quantum bits that power these machines. Qubits are extremely sensitive to their environment; even the slightest disturbance can cause them to lose information, a problem known as decoherence. Building stable, error-corrected quantum computers requires overcoming this fragility, but progress has been slow and the technical hurdles remain immense. Some critics, like mathematician Gil Kalai, argue that scalable quantum computers may be impossible to build, as noise and errors will always overwhelm the system.

Others point out that many claims of “quantum supremacy” have not withstood close examinations, and that some companies may be overselling their progress.

Beyond technical skepticism, there are also questions about the practical value of quantum computing. While quantum machines could, in theory, solve certain problems much faster than classical computers, most current applications are still speculative, and the technology is far from delivering on its grand promises. Today’s quantum computers are still small, noisy prototypes, and for now, many experts agree they are not yet useful for real-world tasks.

Yet, even critics of quantum computing recognise the immense value of quantum mechanics itself. Over the past century, quantum theory has deepened our understanding of the universe, from the structure of atoms to the behaviour of stars and the chemistry of life. The pursuit of quantum technologies, even if it falls short of its loftiest goals, continues to drive scientific discovery.

So as we celebrate 100 years of quantum mechanics, the journey itself has already changed the world, and may yet reveal deeper truths about the nature of reality.

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