insider brief
- A SAS survey of more than 500 global leaders found that uncertainty about real-world applications is the biggest barrier to quantum AI adoption, beyond cost.
- Organizations remain interested in quantum AI, but face challenges such as high implementation costs, limited expertise, unclear regulations, and a lack of available solutions.
- SAS plans to address these barriers with its upcoming Quantum Lab platform. This allows users to test classical, quantum, and hybrid approaches while reducing the cost and complexity of experiments.
SAS reports that interest in quantum AI remains high, but cost remains the biggest barrier to adoption, with uncertainty around real-world applications despite new tools being introduced to lower barriers to adoption.
Organizations are beginning to test the near-term value of quantum computing through a hybrid approach that combines classical and quantum systems, according to a new study published by SAS. The findings suggest that while the technology is still in its infancy, companies are actively seeking ways to derive practical benefits before large-scale quantum hardware becomes widely available.
The study, based on responses from more than 500 global industry leaders, shows how sentiment will change from 2025 to 2026. Currently, uncertainty about real-world use is the biggest barrier to adoption, followed by high implementation costs and a lack of trained personnel, according to a news release. Last year, cost was the biggest concern.
SAS, a US-based software company that develops data analytics and AI, defines quantum AI as the use of machine learning techniques on quantum hardware, often in conjunction with traditional computing systems. In practice, this hybrid approach can reduce processing time for certain tasks from hours to minutes, improve model efficiency on smaller datasets, and help stabilize results over time, according to a news release.
understand the barriers
This research shows the market is moving from initial curiosity to cautious evaluation. While cost remains a factor, the news release indicates that organizations are increasingly focused on whether quantum AI can deliver measurable results in real-world scenarios.
Other barriers cited in the survey include limited solution availability, lack of clear regulatory guidelines, and gaps in knowledge and expertise. These challenges suggest that the main problem is that many organizations do not know how to integrate quantum technology into their existing workflows or how to justify the investment.
“Organizations of all sizes are eager to develop their intellectual property – their unique patented approach to quantum AI – so they will be ready as the technology matures,” Bill Wysotsky, principal quantum architect at SAS, said in a news release. “Despite continued strong interest, it’s understandable that leaders are proceeding cautiously, unwilling to commit to expensive quantum investments for fear they won’t lead to valuable use cases or problems solved. SAS is committed to leveling the playing field, establishing real-world use cases today and ensuring our customers can capture a piece of the quantum pie tomorrow.”
Introducing SAS Quantum Lab
To address these concerns, SAS is preparing to launch SAS Quantum Lab, a platform designed to allow organizations to experiment with quantum AI in a controlled environment. The product is expected to be available to SAS Viya customers in the fourth quarter.
According to a news release, the platform allows users to compare classical, quantum, and hybrid approaches side-by-side for a given business problem. Early tests cited in the release suggest performance improvements of over 100x and cost savings of up to 99%, although such results may vary depending on your use case.
The platform also includes a virtual tutor who guides users through quantum AI concepts and workflows and provides sample code and recommendations. According to SAS, its goal is to make quantum experiments accessible to users without deep expertise in quantum physics.
“This research reveals what SAS experts have already seen in the market: Leaders are excited about using quantum, but the barriers to entry are too high and solutions are needed,” Amy Stout, head of quantum product strategy at SAS, said in the release. “SAS is excited to give you a sneak peek of SAS Quantum Lab, a hands-on playground for learning and innovating with real-world ROI.”
The use case begins to take shape
Survey respondents pointed to the potential applications of quantum AI, especially in areas where complex data patterns and optimization challenges are difficult for classical systems alone. These include fraud detection in financial services, real-time optimization of 5G network traffic, and molecular simulation for drug discovery.
Other use cases mentioned include supply chain logistics, predictive modeling of customer behavior, and more efficient training of large language models. Although many of these applications are still in the exploration stage, the news release suggests that organizations are beginning to align quantum AI with specific business goals.
“If you are ready to explore quantum AI, we are ready to work with you,” Wysotsky said. “Bring your ideas and our experts will help you determine if and how quantum AI can be incorporated in a way that is worthwhile, safe, and smart.”
