USTC Professor Warns Against Commercial Hype in Quantum Computing Applications

At the Inclusion Bund Summit, Professor Lu Chaoyang from the University of Science and Technology of China clarified that quantum computing is not a universal accelerator capable of speeding up AI large language models. He cautioned against exaggerated commercial claims—such as using quantum computing for pig farming or commercial finance—stating that academia currently lacks recognized algorithms for such tasks. This commentary provides a realistic baseline for industry expectations, helping investors and tech leaders separate true technological capability from marketing hype. It underscores that quantum computing's immediate value lies in specialized domain modeling and national strategic security rather than replacing general-purpose GPUs. Lu highlighted that even world-class quantum research teams are still searching for practical algorithms, making commercial claims of ready-to-use quantum drug discovery or finance unrealistic. Furthermore, he noted that the true strategic priority for quantum speedup lies in molecular and materials simulation, as well as breaking standard encryption schemes like RSA and elliptic-curve cryptography.