Quantum Computing in the NISQ Era and Beyond

Key points

• ▸Defines NISQ: Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum devices with 50–100s of qubits and no error correction.
• ▸Argues NISQ devices are scientifically valuable but unlikely to deliver immediate commercial advantage.
• ▸Frames hybrid quantum-classical algorithms (like VQE and QAOA) as the near-term path.

In plain language

Preskill gave a name to the machines we actually have: NISQ devices — big enough to be interesting, too noisy to run long algorithms reliably. He argued we should be excited but honest: these machines are wonderful for learning and physics experiments, but the world-changing applications need error correction and many more qubits. That balance of optimism and realism still shapes how the field talks about progress.

Why it matters

This paper defined the vocabulary and mindset of the entire current era of quantum computing. Almost every discussion of 'what quantum computers can do today' traces back to its framing.