Quantum Computing: Going Where No One Has Gone Before

Quantum computing is an approach to data processing and computation that uses principles of quantum mechanics to solve complex problems that traditional computers cannot handle. This panel aims to explore the potential of quantum technologies and their impact on IS scholarship and practice. We will discuss lessons from the past, the outlook for the future, and how quantum computing may either challenge or expand the current modus operandi of business and society. Building on common images of quantum computing in the popular discourse, the panel considers five metaphors used to describe quantum computing: a mirage, a crypto buster, a supercomputer, a silver bullet, and a paradigm shift. Overall, we call on the information systems community to help transform the discourse on quantum computing, shifting from an exclusive interest in technical issues to a broader interest in quantum information systems that focuses on the application and commercial advancement of quantum computing.