Quantum leap: Three out of five businesses are exploring quantum AI, per SAS survey

Rhea-AI Summary

A recent global survey by SAS reveals that over 60% of businesses are actively investing or exploring quantum AI opportunities. The study, surveying 500 business leaders across industries, shows 70% of respondents are familiar with quantum AI. Key business applications include data analytics (48%), R&D (41%), and cybersecurity (35%). However, major adoption barriers include high costs (38%), lack of knowledge (35%), and uncertainty about practical applications (31%). SAS is addressing these challenges by collaborating with quantum computing leaders like D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS), IBM, and QuEra Computing. The company is developing hybrid quantum-classical solutions through its SAS Viya platform and working on pilot projects with major consumer goods companies. SAS aims to simplify quantum research and make it more accessible for organizations dealing with complex data challenges.

Positive

• High market interest with 60% of businesses actively investing or exploring quantum AI
• Strong partnerships with leading quantum computing companies (D-Wave, IBM, QuEra)
• Integration of quantum capabilities into SAS Viya platform
• Practical implementation through pilot projects with major consumer goods companies

Negative

• High adoption costs (38% cited as barrier)
• Significant knowledge gap in understanding quantum technology (35% barrier)
• Uncertainty around practical applications (31% barrier)
• Lack of trained personnel (31% barrier)

SAS is making quantum research simple and intuitive for organizations with complex data problems

ORLANDO, Fla., May 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SAS INNOVATE -- Quantum computing and related technologies like quantum AI are regarded as the next big wave after AI. A global survey of 500 business leaders across industries found that interest in quantum is very high, with more than 60% of respondents indicating they are actively investing or exploring opportunities in quantum AI.

With quantum, companies can analyze more data than ever and achieve amazingly fast answers to very complex questions.

Yet these business leaders also cited crucial barriers to adoption of quantum AI. Among their top concerns were high cost (38%), lack of understanding or knowledge (35%), and uncertainty around practical, real-world uses (31%). The survey results indicate that while interest in quantum AI is on the rise, organizations need a clear roadmap and guide to better leverage this technology.

That's where SAS, a leader in data and AI, can help. Through pilot projects with customers, quantum AI research and work with leaders in quantum computing, SAS aims to provide guidance to businesses on applying quantum technologies in their organizations.

SAS seeks to make quantum understandable and approachable to a broad audience so they can get to value faster without having to understand the complex quantum market or the physics behind the technology.

"For decades SAS has helped organizations across a host of industries find better answers faster and improve business decisions through data and AI. With the emergence of quantum technologies, companies can analyze more data than ever and achieve amazingly fast answers to very complex questions involving myriad variables," said Bill Wisotsky, Principal Quantum Architect at SAS. "Our goal is to make quantum research simple and intuitive for our customers and help them apply it to their business."

Working with top companies
A major consumer goods company is working with SAS on a proof of concept related to hybrid quantum-classical optimization, using quantum annealing and SAS classical optimization solvers.

It is one of several organizations with whom SAS is collaborating to apply data and AI to complex and compute-intensive business challenges. Quantum AI and advanced models can take advantage of the significant speed increase and expressibility of quantum computers.

Today's research into quantum computing and quantum AI is extremely complex, at times confusing, and too often cloaked in hype. And many predict widespread adoption of quantum technology to be years away.

Yet SAS is already tackling real-world problems by applying hybrid architectures, which include both quantum and traditional (a.k.a. classical) computing. And SAS is working with top companies to explore breakthrough solutions to business challenges.

Research into quantum AI
Quantum AI brings together quantum computing and AI to develop new algorithms, models and systems that can process complex data, train complicated machine learning models, and solve problems considered challenging or impossible with traditional computers. SAS researchers are focused on key industries that will benefit from the speed and scale of quantum AI, including life sciences for enhanced drug discovery, financial services for better risk management, and manufacturing for improved materials and optimized processes.

Working with industry leaders
SAS is also working with leading companies in quantum computing. These companies and their technologies complement SAS' innovation and focus on applying quantum AI and analytics to solve big business challenges. SAS is now collaborating with:

• D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) – a leader in the development and delivery of quantum annealing systems, D-Wave is the world's first commercial supplier of quantum computers. Its mission is to help customers realize the value of quantum, today. SAS is leveraging D-Wave's technology in its own research, as well as in work with customers.
  
  
• IBM – a leader in superconducting quantum computing. SAS is a member of the IBM Quantum Network. SAS' goal is to accelerate quantum integration to solve challenging problems using a classical/quantum hybrid methodology.
  
  
• QuEra Computing Inc. – a leader in neutral-atom quantum computing. SAS is a member of the QuEra Quantum Alliance Partner Program, which aims to accelerate the development, deployment and use of neutral-atom quantum computers to solve the world's most challenging computational problems.

SAS is also experimenting with the use of quantum AI components in some of its latest technologies. For example, SAS has conducted an experiment interfacing with quantum annealing technology through SAS^® Viya^® Workbench, a self-service, on-demand compute environment for conducting data preparation and exploratory data analysis and developing AI models.

In the future, SAS plans to add ways for developers to experiment with quantum AI in tools like SAS Viya Workbench, part of SAS' flagship data and AI platform.

Global survey
In April, SAS conducted a global pulse survey of business managers across five countries: China, France, Mexico, U.K. and U.S. They represented a range of industries, including health care, life sciences, manufacturing, retail, government and banking.

The survey found that more than 70% of respondents were very or somewhat familiar with the concept of quantum AI. And they saw the most potential for quantum AI in business functions related to data analytics and machine learning (48%), research and development (41%), cybersecurity (35%), supply chain and logistics (31%), finance and risk management (26%), and marketing (20%).

In addition to those noted above, these business managers also cited a lack of trained personnel (31%) and a lack of clear regulatory guidelines (26%) as critical barriers to the adoption of quantum AI.

Quantum at SAS Innovate
An executive from a SAS customer will be a mainstage presenter at SAS Innovate, sharing more on the company's proof-of-concept quantum project with SAS. There will also be a quantum booth in the conference's Innovation Hub and a breakout session co-presented by SAS and D-Wave titled "Kick-Starting Research with SAS Viya Workbench and Quantum Solvers."

Today's announcement was made at SAS Innovate, the data and AI experience for business leaders, technical users and SAS Partners. This year's event is supported by our partner sponsors, including Microsoft, Intel and AWS.

Keep up with the latest news from SAS by visiting www.sas.com/news or follow us on LinkedIn or X.

About SAS
SAS is a global leader in data and AI. With SAS software and industry-specific solutions, organizations transform data into trusted decisions. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW^®.

SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. ® indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright © 2025 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved.

Editorial Contacts

Mike Nemecek
Mike.nemecek@sas.com
919-531-5140
Sas.com/news

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SOURCE SAS

FAQ

What percentage of businesses are exploring quantum AI according to SAS survey?

According to the SAS survey, over 60% of businesses are actively investing or exploring opportunities in quantum AI.

What are the main barriers to quantum AI adoption identified in the SAS survey?

The main barriers are high cost (38%), lack of understanding/knowledge (35%), uncertainty around practical uses (31%), lack of trained personnel (31%), and unclear regulatory guidelines (26%).

Which quantum computing companies is SAS partnering with?

SAS is partnering with D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS), IBM through the IBM Quantum Network, and QuEra Computing through their Quantum Alliance Partner Program.

What are the top business functions where quantum AI shows potential?

The top business functions are data analytics and machine learning (48%), research and development (41%), cybersecurity (35%), supply chain and logistics (31%), finance and risk management (26%), and marketing (20%).

How is SAS implementing quantum AI in their products?

SAS is implementing quantum AI through their SAS Viya Workbench platform, offering a self-service environment for data preparation, analysis, and AI model development with quantum capabilities.