‘US users top list’ after China’s state-of-the-art quantum computer goes global (2024)

FAQs

‘US users top list’ after China’s state-of-the-art quantum computer goes global? ›

US Tops User List for China's Quantum Computer, Origin Wukong. Visitors from the United States are at the top of the list of users of the Origin Wukong, Chinese state media is reporting. The device was made accessible to global users on January 6 and attracted remote visitors from 61 countries.

China far and away leads in domestic quantum communication patents, and has a considerable lead in quantum sensing patents, while the United States leads in quantum computing patents (see figure 3).

IBM, the current leader in quantum computing, last year launched its Quantum System Two, a modular quantum computer powered by an IBM-made chip called the Heron. The chip improves “error correction,” combatting decoherence, a phenomenon that leads to the loss of quantum states in a quantum system.

These are just a few of the possibilities that may be enabled by quantum computing, which harnesses the laws of physics to perform calculations much faster than even the most powerful traditional computers. They all hinge on research here in the United States, the world's undisputed leader in quantum computing.

In January, Origin Quantum Computing Technology reported that the majority of its overseas users were based in the U.S. Industry analysis backs this observation. In 2022, research and analysis company GlobalData said China was five years behind the U.S. in quantum technologies.

IBM, Google, and Microsoft Lead the Charge With Quantum Computing Innovation. Ever since I attended IBM's Think conference in 2023 and learned of its quantum computing advancements, I've been fascinated by that technology's potential and surprised by the speed at which it is progressing.

The Shutdown and the Reasons Behind It

Researchers and government officials were concerned that the quantum computer might have connected with an extraterrestrial intelligence or even entered an unknown realm of computation.

Now comes the hard part. After making the world's largest quantum chip (and cryogenic fridge), Big Blue is taking a more modular approach to build an error-corrected computer.

Classical computers are much faster than quantum computers, but sometimes quantum computers have dramatically better algorithms. So, in our analogy, classical computers would always be better in open water, where both have access to the best route (algorithm).

Does NASA use quantum computing? ›

NASA's QuAIL team has extensive and experience utilizing near-term quantum computing hardware to evaluate the potential impact of quantum computing.

Astonishing capabilities of Google's quantum computer

Google's latest iteration of its quantum machine, the Sycamore quantum processor, currently holds 70 qubits.

With leading institutions such as IBM, Microsoft, Google and Amazon joining eager startups such as Rigetti and Ionq in investing heavily in this exciting new technology, quantum computing is estimated to become a USD 1.3 trillion industry by 2035.

North America is the epicenter of quantum computing, according to industry experts. U.S. companies building quantum processors include IBM, Amazon, Intel, Google, Quantinuum, IonQ, Microsoft, Quantum Computing Inc and Rigetti Computing. In Canada, D-Wave Systems and Xanadu Quantum Technologies have been pioneers.

China's Quantum Leap

A report from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute showed China leading the US in 53 of 64 critical technologies, demonstrating its growing momentum in scientific research leveraged for national aims.

- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $65 million in funding in quantum computing for 10 projects, comprising a total of 38 separate awards.

The current field of quantum computers isn't quite ready for prime time: McKinsey has estimated that 5,000 quantum computers will be operational by 2030 but that the hardware and software necessary for handling the most complex problems won't be available until 2035 or later.

Within five different industries, the Unites States were seen as technology leaders in the world in 2021. Within aerospace and defense, more than 80 percent of the respondents saw the U.S. as technology leaders.

Quantum Computing is going to be the, “next big thing” because of multiple reasons. Classical computing is starting to run into multiple limits. The most important limit has something to do with physics.