If you had to choose between solving a problem in 5 minutes or solving it in 10 septillion years (for those unfamiliar, that’s or 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 years), which would you choose?

It may sound like a riddle, but Google has made this a real option with it’s newest quantum computing chip. The chip, dubbed “Willow”, is the latest supercomputing chip in a line of products from Google. Across the world, quantum computing has flown rather under the radar of mainstream discussion; however, Willow is raising some eyebrows. In particular, just days after Willow’s launch, China announced its own quantum computing chip. The competitive market is opening the potential, although many, many years away, of a world that is no longer subject to the rules of physics, time, and logic as we know it.

The risks of quantum computing are worthy of mention and have been at the subject or moral and ethical discussions since Google introduced Willow. The power of these quantum computers is difficult to describe: for instance, take the example of solving a problem in 5 minutes versus 10 septillion years. Can the average human mind even comprehend the length of time that 10 septillion years is? The truth is that this is beyond our understanding of the world in which we live. That length of time is longer than the estimated existence of our universe. And, in the same way, our minds may struggle to truly understand this new era of computing power.

Take, for instance, the ability of quantum computing to affect encryption codes. Today’s levels of encryption are better than they’ve ever been. There are systems that are, in theory, unbreakable. Governments, financial institutes, and various websites rely on encryption to keep data secure. These “unbreakable” codes could be dismantled in nanoseconds by a quantum computer. Encryption systems could be solved—and all data it protects unleashed—near instantaneously. In the hands of a bad actor, this could have serious global repercussions. Any hacker with a quantum computer could access information, money, passwords, and more with little to no effort. Another risky consideration is the sheer volume of disruption quantum computing could cause to governments, economies, and resources of the modern world. Technology that we rely on today would be made obsolete and, in turn, would make jobs, organizations, and companies obsolete as well.

Already, some of the world’s most advanced minds are thinking through the post-quantum world. They are developing encryption that could potentially withstand quantum computation and ethical guidelines for a world in which quantum computing is more readily accessible. Although many of these challenges and solutions won’t become a reality for quite some time, it does serve as a reminder to prepare for the future: in what ways is your organization facing new technologies in a positive way? What risks do new developments pose for your organization? Do you have a team that’s able to think bigger than even what exists today—and then can break those concepts into actionable risk-mitigating policies for your organization?

Start the conversation with RiskVersity. We can help your organization better understand where you are today, identify risks that you face, and potential risks for the future. We can help you begin to think big.