In recent days, quantum computing has seen significant progress, with Microsoft and D-Wave announcing groundbreaking developments.
As detailed in a previous report, a major hurdle in quantum computing has always been the decay of qubits, which leads to coherence loss and computational errors. Indeed, creating qubits involves producing particles that can be electronically controlled, which requires supercooled, stable environments to avoid interference from thermal dissipation or sound waves. In experiments, these particles flicker in and out of existence in fractions of a second. Correcting errors associated with these fleeting particles is one of the biggest challenges for quantum players.
Microsoft recently unveiled its first quantum computing chip, the Majorana 1, which uses a topological superconductor—an entirely new state of matter that is neither solid, liquid, nor gas. Unlike traditional qubits, which are prone to errors due to interference from their environment, Majorana-based qubits are naturally resistant to errors.
Microsoft’s Majorana 1 features 8 qubits on a small piece of hardware. While the chip currently demonstrates the ability to solve simple mathematical problems, Microsoft believes it lays the foundation for future quantum machines that could eventually host 1 million qubits.
In other action, D-Wave, a company specializing in quantum computing with a focus on quantum annealing, has announced a major breakthrough, claiming to have achieved quantum computational supremacy. This means its quantum computer can solve problems faster than the most powerful classical computers.
Quantum annealing works by exploring multiple solutions at once and gradually “cooling” the system to find the best one. It excels at solving complex optimization tasks such as scheduling, logistics, and machine learning, but is focused on optimization rather than general-purpose computing, making D-Wave a unique player in the quantum space.
The company’s claim was backed by a peer-reviewed study showing how D-Wave’s quantum computer outperformed traditional supercomputers in solving complex magnetic material simulations. D-Wave’s CEO, Alan Baratz, called it the first true demonstration of quantum supremacy, emphasizing that earlier claims either lacked real-world applications or were disputed.
The study, carried out by D-Wave in partnership with an international team of scientists, used the Advantage2 quantum computer in conjunction with the Frontier supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The research focused on lattice structures, with results that could have wide-ranging applications in industries like healthcare and manufacturing.
Overall, the recent wave of announcements suggests that quantum machines are steadily advancing toward practical utility and commercial deployment. While the exact timeline remains uncertain—whether two years or five—hybrid algorithms, which integrate traditional computing with quantum processes, could significantly expand real-world applications and accelerate adoption by making quantum computing more accessible and valuable to potential users.
