Setting the Quantum Agenda: How international Media shapes the Narratives of Quantum Technology

News coverage can influence public perception and adoption of technologies. To investigate how media covers quantum technology, an emerging technology of the 21st century, we analyzed 2,331 news articles from the US, UK, China, and India – nations at the forefront of this industry. Using BERTopic modeling and sentiment analysis, we identified six narratives containing 54 topics. Overall, news focused on quantum computing, while other technological aspects like quantum cryptography were less prevalent. Over time, a notable shift from a societal and scientific discourse to political and economic discussions was observed. This development emphasizes narratives about national strategies, commercialization, and global politics and competition, highlighting the growing rivalry, especially between the US and China. Moreover, regional sentiments varied, with more positive news coverage in Chinese and Indian media compared to the Western counterparts. These insights are vital for stakeholders directing the future of quantum technologies.