The Adoption of Quantum Computing Technologies

Quantum computing can revolutionize search methods by boosting their cost efficiency. In this paper we analyze under which conditions companies should adopt quantum computing for search problems, by considering the core functioning of quantum search algorithms. Whereas classical search allows incremental discovery-firms learn immediately whether a candidate solution is valid-a quantum search algorithm must inspect all candidates in superposition and can reveal results only after the inspection of all elements is completed. We show that this difference in timing of information revelation fundamentally alters the competitive outcome. In monopoly settings, quantum search provides the expected cost efficiency. Under competition, however, delayed revelation eliminates the economic speedup: when the number of competitors is large, classical search dominates quantum search despite its higher computational cost when there is a premium for early discovery. Quantum adoption becomes optimal only for sufficiently complex problems where search-cost efficiency outweighs the early discovery premium. These results highlight that a quantum speedup does not automatically translate into economic advantage and provide conditions under which firms should adopt quantum search technologies.