The Two Waves of Quantum Technology: From Your Phone to the Future

Quantum technology is already integral to daily life through its first wave of innovations like transistors and lasers. A second, more powerful wave is now emerging, focusing on precise control of individual quantum systems to revolutionize fields like computing and medicine.

Marcus Cole

October 9, 2026 · 4 min read

Quantum technology is not just a futuristic concept; it's already a fundamental part of our daily lives. From the transistors in your computer to the lasers that scan your groceries, we are all beneficiaries of the first wave of quantum innovation. However, a second, more powerful wave is emerging, one that promises to revolutionize fields from medicine to computing. Understanding the difference between these two waves is key to grasping both the technology we have today and the profound challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

The distinction, according to the University of Waterloo's Institute for Quantum Computing, lies in the level of control. The first wave of technologies relies on the collective, bulk quantum effects of countless particles. The second wave, in contrast, aims to precisely control and manipulate individual quantum systems, harnessing strange and powerful phenomena like superposition and entanglement to achieve unprecedented capabilities.

Quantum Technology Waves: A Comparative Overview

To understand the landscape of quantum technology, it's helpful to categorize applications into two distinct waves based on the level of control they require over quantum phenomena. This framework distinguishes between established technologies that harness the collective behavior of many particles and emerging applications that depend on the precise manipulation of individual quantum states.

A comparison of the two waves of quantum technology, outlining their core principles, examples, and developmental challenges.
Characteristic	Wave 1: Bulk Quantum Effects	Wave 2: Single Quantum System Control
Level of Control	Relies on the collective, statistical behavior of many quantum particles.	Requires precise control over individual quantum systems.
Key Phenomena	Harnesses general quantum properties like energy levels and electron behavior in materials.	Exploits unique phenomena such as superposition and entanglement.
Examples	Lasers, transistors, MRI scanners, solar cells, and atomic clocks.	Quantum sensors, quantum computers, and secure quantum communication systems.
Development Status	Mature and ubiquitous in modern technology.	In various stages of research and development.
Primary Challenge	Refining manufacturing and improving efficiency of established principles.	Fully measuring, understanding, and controlling the states of complex quantum systems.

Overcoming the Hurdles with AI

Researchers are actively developing new methods to overcome the challenges of controlling and characterizing these complex quantum systems. One promising approach involves using artificial intelligence to make the process more efficient. For instance, a Fermilab-led project known as QCVV, which stands for “AI-Guided Sparse Characterization of Quantum Sensing States and Entanglement Structures,” is designed to tackle this problem head-on.

The QCVV project aims to use AI to identify the most important and informative features of a complex quantum state. By creating a "digital twin" of the quantum system, researchers can pinpoint the most useful measurements to perform. This strategy avoids the brute-force method of trying to measure everything, a task that quickly becomes impossible for larger systems. By intelligently guiding the characterization process, researchers hope to accelerate the development of practical quantum sensors and other second-wave technologies.