The race to unlock the potential of quantum computing has taken a dramatic turn. China’s latest quantum computer, the 105-qubit Zuchongzhi 3.0, has completed a complex computational task in mere hundreds of seconds—a feat that would take the world’s fastest supercomputer, Frontier, an estimated 6 billion years to accomplish.
This groundbreaking achievement, published on arxiv.org on Tuesday, sets a new benchmark for “quantum computational advantage,” a term reflecting the milestone where quantum computers outperform classical counterparts in specific tasks. The Chinese research team believes this work opens new avenues for tackling real-world problems more efficiently by increasing qubit counts and circuit complexity.
Quantum computing, a field still in its infancy, promises to revolutionize industries by solving problems beyond the reach of classical computers. The latest development from China not only eclipses previous records but also intensifies the global competition in this cutting-edge technology.
In 2019, Google announced it had achieved “quantum supremacy” with its 53-qubit machine solving a complex problem in 200 seconds—a task they claimed would take a classical supercomputer 10,000 years. However, in 2023, a Chinese team challenged this assertion by developing a new algorithm that solved the same problem on a classical computer in just 17 seconds.
The term “quantum supremacy” has been subject to debate within the scientific community. In 2020, scientists from the University of Science and Technology of China introduced the term “quantum computational advantage,” emphasizing a more nuanced understanding of quantum capabilities, as demonstrated in their “Jiuzhang” photonic quantum computer.
With over 30 countries actively pursuing advancements in quantum technology, the race for quantum supremacy—or computational advantage—has become a pivotal battleground for global tech leaders. The latest breakthrough by China’s Zuchongzhi 3.0 underscores the nation’s rapidly growing capabilities and its significant role in shaping the future of quantum computing.
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Quantum supremacy race heats up: China's new test blasts past Google
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