As technology cycles accelerate from eras to ‘moments’, quantum computing is poised to follow AI into the public consciousness. In a wide‑ranging conversation with Quantum Spectator just before the release of Cisco’s Universal Quantum Switch, Guy Diedrich, Global Innovation Officer at Cisco, explains why the Quantum Age may arrive sooner than expected—and how Cisco intends to connect the quantum world securely, interoperably, and at scale.
We’ve moved from long technological “ages” to much shorter “moments.” How does quantum fit into this acceleration?
I do believe the Quantum Age will arrive within the next three to five years. Historically, we had the Industrial Age lasting over 240 years, the Information Age roughly 40 years, and the Digital Age about 15 years. Now we are living in what I describe as an AI moment—a micro‑age. It is here, and it passes very quickly.
Artificial intelligence has existed for decades. The first academic papers date back to the 1960s, and at Cisco it has been embedded in our networking and security technologies for over a decade. What changed three and a half years ago was public awareness, triggered by conversational AI. Suddenly people thought AI was new, when in fact only its accessibility and application had changed.
AI will become invisible over the next couple of years as it is embedded into everything. At the same time, quantum is rising rapidly. I am not suggesting quantum will be as ubiquitous as AI in the immediate term, but the progress trajectory is undeniable. We are seeing companies, including Cisco, move into the Quantum Age extremely quickly, and that pace leaves little to slow the momentum.
Cisco has been involved in quantum research for a long time. How far back does that go?
Cisco’s involvement with quantum did not begin recently. In 2010, when I was still in academia, I was approached by Marlan Scully, widely regarded as the father of quantum optics. He proposed establishing an Institute for Quantum Studies at the top floors of a physics building, and Cisco funded that initiative.
That institute was created sixteen years ago, and quantum research itself predates even that. What we are seeing now is not the birth of quantum, but its emergence into practical relevance. Its time has come.
AI’s impact is becoming clear, but quantum’s implications seem harder to predict. How do you distinguish the two?
The key difference is foundational. AI is built on classical computing—ones and zeros—while quantum represents a complete transformation of the underlying mathematics. It introduces entirely new ways of modeling reality.
I use healthcare as an example. Today, AI supports drug discovery and helps radiologists detect anomalies in medical imaging. Quantum goes much further. It will enable every individual to have a digital twin at the DNA level. We will be able to create personalized, autologous cancer vaccines designed specifically for an individual’s cancer as it exists in their DNA.
These vaccines will be tested on the digital twin first, ensuring that they target only what they are supposed to target and do not create unintended consequences. This approach will not be cost‑prohibitive; it will be widely accessible. That is the fundamental difference. AI is extraordinary, but quantum represents a true sea change in what is possible.
Cisco is announcing a major quantum networking breakthrough. What can you share?
Cisco has developed a Universal Quantum Switch designed to support all major quantum modalities.
Our solution accepts quantum information in one modality, converts it, and routes it to another without loss or degradation. This enables different quantum environments to communicate for the first time.
This is widely considered the holy grail of the industry. We have demonstrated in our laboratory that quantum information can be routed between systems without destroying it, preserving its integrity from output to input.
What makes this approach uniquely Cisco?
There are several important characteristics. First, the technology operates at room temperature. It does not require superconducting equipment or refrigeration, and it works over existing infrastructure and standard telephony.
Second, Cisco is not interested in one‑off solutions. We are taking a full‑stack approach—across devices, hardware, software, data, and the network itself. This is consistent with how Cisco has operated since the 1990s, when we built the networking foundations of the internet.
Just as Cisco connected the world during the rise of the internet, we intend to connect the quantum world securely and interoperably.
How does Cisco view fragmentation and standards in the quantum industry?
Which modality ultimately dominates is less important than ensuring they can communicate. Standards such as those from NIST are critical, but companies will continue to pursue different technical advantages. Cisco’s role is to be the connector across those choices.
Equally important is security. End‑to‑end encryption is built into our quantum solutions, and Cisco is already leading in post‑quantum cryptography. Our architecture applies quantum‑safe cryptography across every layer—from device to hardware to data—so enterprises receive a turnkey solution, not piecemeal protection.
How urgent is the transition to quantum‑safe security?
For years, the industry has focused on Q‑Day—the moment when quantum computers can break classical encryption. I believe there will be a precursor to that moment—the R-Day. Regulatory bodies will require quantum compliance before Q‑Day arrives.
Organizations will effectively face an earlier deadline, when regulators demand that everything be in place. This is happening faster than many people recognize. Quantum’s power is advancing rapidly, and compliance timelines are accelerating accordingly.
What excites—and concerns—you most right now?
What is most exciting is also what is most daunting: nothing is happening sequentially anymore. Everything is happening concurrently. AI, agentic AI, quantum, and neuromorphic computing are all developing together and accelerating one another.
AI accelerates quantum. Quantum accelerates AI. Neuromorphic computing—systems that mimic the human brain—is emerging alongside them. These converging waves form what I have heard described as a rogue wave: immense power created by multiple forces arriving at once.
The advantage we have is that we know this wave is coming. Industry, academia, and government must work together to prepare for it. If we do, we can fully realize the value of these technologies. If we do not, we risk being overwhelmed by their speed and scale.
Is the workforce ready for this future?
Not yet. MIT found that only 30 percent of candidates applying for quantum roles are qualified. Two‑thirds of quantum jobs today cannot be filled with appropriately trained people.
At the same time, over 80 percent of companies say AI will be foundational to their success, yet only 13 percent believe they are prepared to fully take advantage of it. That skills gap is enormous, and quantum will widen it further unless we act.
This is why preparation matters; the technologies are coming regardless. Our responsibility is to ensure society, institutions, and workforces are ready to meet them.
