Quantum computing has long felt like a perpetual promise — a mysteriously powerful technology that’s always “about 10 years away.” If you tuned it out, you weren’t alone. But something has shifted ...

If the term “quantum computing” makes you think of sci-fi movies or expensive lab experiments, you’re not alone. But in reality, quantum technology is moving fast — and most industries aren’t ready.

Quantum computing has the attention of the most powerful institutions in the world, including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, IBM and the U.S. government. Startups in the space attracted about $2 billion ...