The Race for Quantum Supremacy and the Quantum Artificial Intelligence of Things

Both races are setting the stage for the next dominant world power. While research into AI and quantum technologies is being developed on a worldwide scale, with advances coming from different countries, China and the United States (US) are at the forefront of both races, with these technologies forming important stepping stones for geopolitical power accumulation. Indeed, China is currently playing the game for supremacy on both quantum technologies and AI, trying to surpass the US and become the leading world power (Smith-Goodson, 2019). If China wins the race for quantum supremacy then it will be in a leading geostrategic position, since it will become the major dominant power in the next technological infrastructure, if, along with quantum supremacy, China achieves AI supremacy (both classical and quantum), then it may topple the US, Russia, Europe and Asian geopolitical competition vectors. On the other hand, this race is not restricted to countries, it is a global geostrategic and geoeconomic race that includes cooperative networks involving the academia and the private sectors as well, indeed, the US geostrategic position depends strongly upon the private sector's US-based large technology companies' investment in quantum technologies. Regarding the issue of quantum supremacy, it is relevant to consider Kirkland (2020)'s reflection, quoting: "(…) One thing remains unchanged (…) and that is the glaring reality that those who manage to successfully harness the power of quantum mechanics will have supremacy over the rest of the world. How do you think they will use it?"