The birth of quantum physics in the early 20th century made it unequivocally clear that the universe is far bizarre than humans have ever fathomed. Concepts like superposition and quantum entanglement introduced us to a world where it's possible for a particle to be in two places at once. Fast forward to the 21st century, these principles form the basis of a new computational system – quantum computing.

The emergent realm of quantum computing poses to revolutionize various aspects of our lives, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence. While traditional computers use bits (either 0 or 1) as their smallest unit of data, quantum computers leverage qubits which can be both 0 and 1 simultaneously. This property allows quantum computers to process a massive number of possibilities all at once.

AI, particularly machine learning, stands to gain significantly from quantum computing. The ability to process vast amounts of information simultaneously promises faster and more accurate predictive models. And as we move towards a more data-centric world, these improvements could provide breakthroughs in healthcare, finance, climate modelling, and a myriad of other sectors.

However, despite its potential, quantum computing faces significant hurdles. Today's quantum machines are extraordinarily delicate, and a slight change in temperature or vibration could cause qubits to fall out of their quantum state, a problem known as 'decoherence'. Plus, quantum algorithms are notoriously difficult to write as they have to account for all potential states a qubit can be in.

Even with these challenges, interest in quantum computing continues to grow. Tech giants like Google, IBM and Microsoft, as well as numerous startups, are heavily investing in quantum research. Google's Sycamore processor, for example, achieved 'quantum supremacy' by performing a calculation that would have taken the world's most powerful supercomputer 10,000 years in just 200 seconds.

As it stands, we might be a few decades away from quantum computers becoming mainstream. But the fruit it bears, particularly its merging with AI, seems to hold immense promise. The quantum-AI future, as surreal as it may seem, is no longer confined to the realms of science fiction. The truth, as they say, is often stranger than fiction.