At NVIDIA’s GTC 2025 conference, CEO Jensen Huang dramatically shifted the narrative on quantum computing. Once predicting that “useful” quantum computing was 15–30 years away—a view that had sent publicly traded quantum stocks crashing—Huang now suggests that widespread adoption of humanoid robots powered by quantum advances could be just a few years away.
Quantum Computing: Four Waves of Evolution
During his keynote, Huang outlined a roadmap for AI evolution that includes four waves:
Perception AI: Emerging about a decade ago, focusing on basic tasks such as speech recognition.
Generative AI: Dominating the past five years with innovations in text and image creation.
Agentic AI: The current phase, characterized by autonomous decision-making and complex reasoning.
Physical AI: The future frontier, set to drive real-world applications like humanoid robots in manufacturing and beyond.
Huang emphasized that quantum computers, which harness qubits operating in probabilistic states unlike classical bits, are poised to revolutionize how complex problems—from cryptography to logistics optimization—are solved. This marks a significant departure from his earlier skepticism, as he laughed off his previous comments and challenged industry leaders on stage.
Industry Panel Insights
Huang hosted two panels featuring representatives from 12 quantum computing companies, including IonQ and D-Wave Quantum Inc. The discussions revealed a range of perspectives:
Some panelists highlighted quantum applications already making an impact in drug discovery, materials development, and financial forecasting.
Others, like Loïc Henriet (CEO of Pasqal) and Peter Chapman (CEO of IonQ), underscored that quantum systems will complement classical computers as powerful accelerators rather than full-fledged standalone systems.
Huang acknowledged the rapid scaling of quantum computing, stating, “Quantum computing is scaling a lot faster than classical computing did.” He closed the panels on an upbeat note, remarking that if his previous assumptions being proven wrong could spotlight quantum’s potential, then “mission accomplished.”
Market Reaction
Despite the promising discussions, the market reaction for publicly traded quantum computing stocks was mixed. At closing:
D-Wave Quantum Inc (NYSE:QBTS) was down 18%.
Quantum Computing Inc (NASDAQ:QUBT) fell 11.7%.
IONQ Inc (NYSE:IONQ) dropped 9.3%.
Rigetti Computing Inc (NASDAQ:RGTI) declined 9.2%.
Looking Ahead: NVIDIA’s Quantum Research Lab
In conjunction with its renewed focus on quantum computing, NVIDIA announced plans to open the NVIDIA Accelerated Quantum Research Center (NVAQC) in Boston. This state-of-the-art lab will facilitate collaboration between Harvard, MIT, and NVIDIA’s research teams, accelerating innovation and integration of quantum technologies with classical computing systems.
Leveraging FMP Data for Quantum Computing Investments
For investors looking to gain deeper insights into the quantum computing sector and monitor related regulatory disclosures, consider these two essential Financial Modeling Prep APIs:
? Company Rating APIAccess comprehensive financial ratings and performance metrics for publicly traded quantum computing companies such as IonQ, D-Wave, and Rigetti Computing.
? SEC Filings APIStay updated on the latest regulatory filings and disclosures related to quantum computing investments and broader technology sector developments.
Conclusion
NVIDIA’s GTC 2025 has redefined expectations for quantum computing, compressing what once was seen as a multi-decade timeline into a matter of a few years. As the industry accelerates its integration of quantum and classical systems, the upcoming launch of NVIDIA’s quantum research lab underscores a pivotal moment in technological innovation. Investors and industry watchers alike should leverage reliable data from the Company Rating and SEC Filings APIs to stay informed about the evolving quantum computing landscape.