PsiQuantum plans to build a quantum computer using light in a room that looks like a cross between a data center and an ice cream factory. Inside, hundreds of chips handle thousands of photons, each meticulously tracked for tasks conventional computers can’t handle.

Founded by four physicists from UK universities, PsiQuantum aims to be the first to create a large, usable quantum machine. Their goal: predict drug interactions in minutes instead of years. But proving such claims is tough, as advances are incremental and hard to verify outside the lab.

The company has drawn major players into their ambitious plans, including governments and chip manufacturers. They’ve secured $1 billion in funding and are building facilities in Chicago and Australia, promising a hardware-ready site by 2027. The proof of their promise could come as soon as next year.

This quantum leap might change medicine, but only if it works—and that remains to be seen. Still, the potential is tantalizing: finally unraveling the complexities of quantum mechanics in real-world systems.