Start watching this video, here: https://youtu.be/KnxLoScPCcQ, or here: https://quantumxc.com/watch-quantum-xchanges-tedx-talk/ at 5:39:45 to hear John Prisco, CEO of Quantum Xchange, discuss how QKD works, why we need it, and the general context of encryption.

I took away three key points:  1) the Chinese government has a 1,240 mile QKD link between Beijing and Shanghai, showing this can happen over land...over long distances, 2) they also have a satellite link that uses QKD, showing this can happen through space, and 3) Quantum Xchange has their link in the Holland Tunnel (and in fiber cables around the East Coast).  I read somewhere else that the US can now do this via an airplane and ground station, allowing for secure communications to aircraft.

OK, so the video only covered points 1 and 2.  I learned the 3rd point today from a news article that @Quantum_Xchange tweeted.  Here is Quantum Xchange's website:  https://quantumxc.com/

So, how does it work?  We entangle photons (each is '1' or '0' and together those bits make up a quantum inspired algorithm key) and send them down the link.  If somebody tries to look at them, they lose their entanglement and change.  They show someone looked (tamper apparent).  It is like Schroedinger's Cat...if someone looks the wave function collapses, and quantum values collapse to classical ones.

Pretty cool stuff.  Photonics based networking.  Speed of light, slowed by repeaters and other equipment. 

I am still waiting for data teleportation and instantaneous communication of states between photons and electrons (if I do something here, it immediately determines the value there...and there could be very far away).   
Thank you for reading. 

​Jeffrey Cohen, May 30, 2019, Founder & CEO of Chicago Quantum, a division of US Advanced Computing Infrastructure, Inc.

Another update on June 6, 2019.  I just posted yesterday about British Telecom (BT) going live with their 125km QKD network in England in March 2019 on this website.  I tweeted on it @chicago_quantum. 

Looks like BT has been working on this since 1993 (when they sent their first quantum encrypted message).  

Just read articles about Google, D-Wave, IonQ, IBM and generically about AI / Quantum intersection.  IonQ.  The first 2 had hardware innovations, the 3rd said be patient, the fourth improved interpretation and modeling, and the 5th helped us see that Quantum and AI are improving faster together, with synergies. 
Worth a read...
Jeffrey Cohen, May 21, 2019 

There is so much in this article, that I suggest you read it.  It is not comprehensive, and may not be entirely correct...but it summarizes information that I understand, and ties together some new insights (e.g., IBM has shown the ability to use a supercomputer to simulate a 49 qubit system).  

By Jeffrey Cohen, May 16, 2019
​After spending ~30 minutes reading through meetup.com invitations and groups, and not signing up for a single one (not feeling social) I came across this article by the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University (May 1, 2019 - access via the button above).  Maybe the four tips would help me network more...

1)  Prepare a Repertoire of Questions—but Maintain a Curious Mindset
2)  Choose Conversation Partners Wisely
3)  Focus on Relationships, Not Business Cards
4)  Know When to Move On

At this level, I didn't learn anything new...but there were small nuggets of insight.

1) Be interested in the answers to the questions you ask, or don't ask them.  Don't fake it.  Listen carefully.  Look for things in common, and ways that you are similar.

2) Read the room first, quick hello to the senior executives, and focus on meeting new people.  Don't pick people that look 'senior' or 'executive' and keep learning new things from people.

3a) It is ok to meet just one or two people, if it can lead to a deeper professional relationship 
3b) Connect people appropriately to others to help or collaborate; this is a valuable skill.

4) Transition out of a conversation quickly enough with a thank you, interest in continuing the conversation at another time, and exchange information.  We are there to network...

Hope that helps.  Thank you to Holly Raider, Clinical Professor of Management at Northwestern.