Quantum computing risks being dragged into the same public backlash now building against AI data centres, argues Karmela Padavic-Callaghan in a New Scientist column. The two technologies are already mixed up in the minds of many people, she writes, even though their purposes and practical demands differ. That conflation could become a problem as quantum projects begin to scale up and require their own large facilities.
The column suggests that quantum computing's success at scale will depend on how well it can separate itself from AI in public debate. Data centres for AI have drawn criticism over energy use, water consumption, and local disruption, and similar objections could easily be aimed at quantum infrastructure. Padavic-Callaghan notes that the technologies are not the same, but the perception gap may matter more than the technical distinction.
To avoid the backlash, the piece implies, quantum computing needs a clearer public identity—one that highlights its specific scientific and industrial promise rather than letting it be seen as just another branch of the AI boom. The column does not offer a detailed roadmap, but it frames differentiation as a necessary step for quantum's long-term viability. As the source is a single opinion column, the argument is presented as analysis rather than established fact.} }'? Wait, need to output JSON only. Ensure valid JSON. The body has markdown paragraphs.{