Poll: Which quantum computing milestone would convince you the field has reached practical value?

[Kane93]

We cover a lot of quantum news here, and almost every week brings a new record. More qubits, better fidelity, longer coherence, a fresh error correction result. What none of these announcements settle is the question most people outside the field care about. When will a quantum computer do something useful that a normal computer cannot?

Different people would accept different evidence. For some, it would be a new drug or battery material designed with quantum help and proven in the real world. Others want to see a commercial customer paying for quantum time because it saves them money, not as a research experiment. Some would point to breaking a real encryption key, which is the milestone everyone fears

Then there are the more technical markers. Hundreds of reliable logical qubits running long calculations, or independent verification of a quantum advantage claim that classical simulations cannot quickly knock down. Those would impress the experts, even if the public barely notices

My own answer has shifted over the past year. A few years ago I would have said a big qubit count, but after reading so much about error rates and calibration, I care far more about reliable logical qubits. Funny how following the news changes what you look for

Pick the milestone that would convince you personally. Sceptics are especially welcome, since this forum has plenty of believers already