Allstate CEO’s Message on Quantum Computing: ‘Get on the Train’

Good morning. Many CEOs are still grappling with how to get meaningful value from AI, but a growing number have their sights set on the next potentially disruptive business technology: quantum computing. Allstate’s Tom Wilson is one of them.

“Quantum will solve problems that traditional compute takes too long to do. And that AI can’t really do,” Wilson, Allstate’s Chair, President and CEO, told me. He said he doesn’t know exactly when the technology will prove out its promises, or how much of a competitive advantage it will deliver to the early adopters—although he’s certain there will be one.

Allstate’s quantum team—currently at 10 people and growing—is investigating the technology for use cases like evaluating complex risk factors and relationships to determine more precise prices that better reflect the underlying level of risk for certain policies.

Wilson’s message to his peers is simple: “Get on the train.” Companies that don’t invest now, won’t be ready to take advantage of it whenever it does ultimately mature. He drew comparisons with the way the emergence of generative AI surprised businesses, who didn’t have the right talent or data infrastructure in place to start using it right away.

“You can invest in quantum, but really the thing is, do you know enough about quantum? And are you engaged enough in the development of quantum so that you know how to build your current system so that it’s ready when quantum is ready?”

Quantum computing uses the principles of quantum physics to solve problems far beyond the capabilities of today’s best supercomputers. While the timelines on commercially meaningful quantum computers are sometimes vague and debated, enterprises are investing today.

According to a report from Boston Consulting Group, enterprises collectively spent $300 million on the technology in 2025, outranking the combined spending by research labs and governments for the first time and signaling an inflection point in commercial interest in the technology. Read more about what businesses like HSBC and EY, as well as Allstate, are doing with it here.

What struck me from my conversation with Wilson and other executives was the way AI has altered their thinking on how to anticipate future technologies that are on the horizon.

Wilson was careful not to imply quantum is right around the bend. It’s not quite, “here comes AI 2.0,” he said, adding the technology is “nowhere close to the usability” of AI.

Wilson said he spends around 30% of his time on technology, the majority of that is AI and quantum is still only a small sliver. But it’s an important sliver.

“It will work. Will it be as effective as everybody wants? I don’t know. But if it’s going to be available, then I need to start thinking about it coming even before I know exactly when it’s going to get there.”

His final message to his peers? “If you had known AI was going to be as powerful as it is today, seven years ago, would you have done something differently with your data and your technology architecture to be ready for how powerful it is today? I think the answer for everybody will be yes.”

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Follow Isabelle Bousquette on LinkedIn, Instagram, X, and TikTok for more behind the scenes on her tech and AI coverage, and lately, her contributions to the WSJ Leadership Institute’s new Executive Resilience series, where she’s profiling America’s top execs about their fitness and wellness habits.

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Steven Rosenbush is chief of the enterprise technology bureau at the WSJ Leadership Institute. He also has a column. You can follow him on LinkedIn.

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