IonQ CEO Says Quantum Computing Demand Accelerates in AI, Defense and Healthcare

Niccolo de Masi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IonQ, said quantum computing demand is accelerating across artificial intelligence, defense and healthcare applications. The executive stated that revenue is expected to double again this year.

De Masi's remarks come as the company positions itself in a field that has drawn increasing attention from technology developers and government agencies. Quantum systems are designed to perform certain calculations far faster than traditional computers by leveraging properties of quantum mechanics.

The technology remains in early commercial stages, with companies like IonQ selling access to quantum processors primarily for research and specialized workloads. Customers have used the systems to explore optimization problems, machine learning models and molecular simulations that are difficult for classical computers.

In artificial intelligence, quantum techniques are being studied for their potential to improve training of select models and solve complex data problems. Defense contractors have examined quantum sensors and encryption-related applications, while healthcare researchers have tested quantum algorithms for drug discovery and protein folding.

De Masi said the pace of adoption across these areas is occurring faster than many observers anticipated. The company has reported revenue growth in recent quarters as it expands its hardware offerings and cloud-based quantum services. IonQ has previously stated that it achieved revenue of $22 million in 2024.

A doubling in 2025 would bring the annual total to $44 million, though the company has not released a detailed forecast or breakdown by sector.