SAS survey: Industry leaders on the quantum AI cusp

Upcoming SAS offering aims to deliver real ROI from quantum AI as organisations cite uncertainty around real-world use cases as the top barrier

Quantum hardware is expected to become widely usable by the early 2030s, leading many to assume that benefitting from it now is out of the question.

However, quantum AI is already delivering value by running machine learning on current quantum systems – speeding up complex tasks, tackling previously infeasible problems, and improving model efficiency and stability. With these benefits already emerging, what’s holding organisations back from investing now?

SAS, a global leader in data and AI, surveyed more than 500 global leaders across industries about quantum AI. The findings show the greatest barriers to adoption are uncertainty around practical, real-world uses and high cost of implementation.

Compared to the first instalment of the survey in 2025, where implementation cost ranked as the top barrier followed by a lack of understanding or knowledge, priorities have shifted in 2026. The greatest barriers to quantum AI adoption in 2026 ranked as follows:

1. Uncertainty around practical, real-world uses.
2. High cost of implementation.
3. Lack of trained personnel.
4. Lack of knowledge or understanding.
5. Limited availability of quantum AI solutions.
6. Lack of clear regulatory guidelines.
    

Despite these challenges, respondents identified a range of high-impact use cases they hope quantum AI can address, including:

• To enhance the accuracy of fraud detection systems in financial services, enabling more efficient identification of complex transaction patterns.
• To optimise 5G network path traffic in real-time.
• To accelerate molecular simulation and the drug discovery process for new therapeutic candidates.
• For supply chain distribution and to optimise logistics problems.
• To improve machine learning workflows with a focus on predictive modeling for customer behaviour.
• To train large language models for natural language processing tasks, reducing the time and resources for model optimisation.

SAS looks at classical and quantum computing as a spectrum: with proven classical computing on one end, and experimental and exponentially more powerful quantum computing on the other. Many industry and business problems fall somewhere in the middle, with a hybrid approach splitting workloads: quantum processing and classical processing each doing what they do best.

Bill Wisotsky, Principal Quantum Architect at SAS, said:

“Organisations of all sizes are eager to develop intellectual property – their original, patented approach to quantum AI – so they’ll be ready as the technology comes of age. Despite continued strong interest, leaders are understandably proceeding with caution, and they don’t want to go all-in on expensive quantum investments they fear may not result in worthwhile use cases and solve problems.

“SAS is working to level the playing field, establishing real-world use cases for today, and ensuring that customers can get a piece of the quantum pie tomorrow.”

How can customers prepare for the quantum economy?

Amy Stout, Head of Quantum Product Strategy at SAS, said:

“This survey illuminates what SAS experts were already seeing in the market: that leaders are excited to use quantum, but the barriers to entry have been too high, and that requires a solution. SAS is excited to give a sneak peek of SAS Quantum Lab, a hands-on playground to learn and innovate for real-world ROI.”

Coming in Q4 to SAS Viya customers, SAS Quantum Lab is a launchpad for the quantum AI journey. It’s designed to be a complement to quantum experts on their existing work, and to empower users who may not be quantum physicists, but are ready to explore, test and validate their ideas.

It significantly reduces the cost of quantum AI exploration and helps customers avoid false signals, all while exploring this powerful technology efficiently and credibly.

SAS Quantum Lab is currently being designed to include the following:

• The ability to compare, side-by-side, classical, quantum and hybrid results for industry use cases, letting users find the best solutions for their business problems.
• Performance-boosting capabilities, with current testing showing more than 100 times speedup and 99% cost savings.
• A virtual quantum AI tutor to accelerate learning by answering questions, offering sample code and suggesting next steps.

“If you’re ready to explore quantum AI, we’re ready to work with you,” added Wisotsky. “Bring your ideas, and our experts will help determine if and how quantum AI can be incorporated in ways that are valuable, safe and sensible.”

Connect with quantum AI at SAS Innovate

Today's announcement was made at SAS Innovate, the company’s global data and AI conference, as SAS celebrates 50 years of innovation. This year's event is proudly supported by our partner sponsors, including Microsoft, Intel and AWS.

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