Quantum, AI & Impact: A Future Worth Building
- Puru Rohilla
- Aug 1
- 3 min read
The technologies shaping our planet’s future are advancing at lightning speed, and at the heart of this transformation lie two powerful tools: Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing.
But the question remains: are we using these tools wisely? Are we aligning them with humanity’s deepest challenges like climate change, inequality, and sustainability? In my work as an impact investor and system thinker, I’ve had the privilege of engaging with founders, governments, researchers, and visionaries across the globe. And one thing is increasingly clear: the fusion of AI, quantum computing, and sustainability is not only inevitable, it is essential. Here are my reflections on how this future is unfolding, and why we at IIS are investing in the solutions that matter most.
I've always had a passion for building things. From my childhood attempts at entrepreneurship to co-founding a company that educates, invests, and leads Europe's largest network of impact investors. Our mission has always been clear: don’t just talk about change. Enable it. Drive it. Scale it. In today’s world, “future-proofing” is more than a buzzword. It’s a necessity. We need technologies that not only solve today's problems, but remain adaptable, sustainable, and intelligent tomorrow.
Quantum computing and AI are already unlocking powerful new capabilities. Quantum computing is revolutionizing how we optimize energy systems, simulate new sustainable materials, and even rethink how we approach carbon capture. It can run endlessly complex simulations that human intuition, or even traditional computing cannot. Meanwhile, AI is embedding intelligence into everything from early warning systems to precision agriculture, circular water systems, and sustainable cities. It predicts climate shifts, manages energy loads, and guides smarter decision-making. Individually, these tools are powerful. Together, they are exponential.
Let’s be clear: technology must serve people and the planet. Quantum simulations help design new battery materials in hours instead of years. AI enables real-time optimization of data centers, cutting energy usage by up to 40%. Combined, they can create regenerative systems, economically and ecologically.But tech is not a magic fix. Carbon capture, for example, is often oversold. We must treat it as one of many tools, not a license to continue polluting. The focus must remain on rapid emission reductions, intelligent resource management, and circular design.
We’re seeing the rise of intelligent infrastructure: smart grids, smart streets, adaptive water systems. Cities from Singapore to Amsterdam are using AI not just to reduce emissions but to elevate quality of life. And the next frontier is combining this intelligence with localized, efficient data and energy infrastructure. Water, like data, is becoming a constrained resource. With the right digital tools, we can manage both with precision and purpose.
One of the quiet sustainability crises of our age is the environmental cost of data storage. That’s why we proudly support SwissVault, a Basel-based company in our IIS portfolio, tackling this issue head-on. Their modular platform uses 50% less energy, 90% less space, and delivers 10x higher data density compared to traditional systems.
With their VaultFS software and next-gen tower hardware, they can operate on just 5KW for 5 Petabytes of storage, versus the 150KW typically required. SwissVault transforms data infrastructure from a hidden carbon sink into a catalyst for sustainable digital transformation.
We’re standing at a threshold.
The fusion of AI, quantum computing, and sustainability offers not just solutions—but a new paradigm. A future that is cleaner, fairer, and more resilient. But this will only happen if we act wisely, urgently, and together. Let’s choose technologies that regenerate, platforms that democratize, and business models that empower.
Let’s not just digitize the future. Let’s humanize it.
Written by - Ben Banerjee
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