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D-Wave Claims Quantum Supremacy with Real-World Problem, Faces Classical Challenges

D-Wave's quantum annealer outperformed classical methods on a complex simulation, but researchers argue classical algorithms may still catch up.

An image of the D-Wave Advantage2 annealing quantum computer prototype that beat supercomputers in solving a real world problem
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Image of a complex pattern of circuitry and connections, primarily golden in color, surrounding a black square chip in the center.
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Overview

  • D-Wave's Advantage2 quantum annealer solved a simulation of quantum dynamics in minutes, which researchers claim would take classical supercomputers millions of years.
  • The study focused on Ising model simulations, relevant to materials science, where classical methods failed to match the quantum hardware's performance for highly complex systems.
  • Researchers using classical algorithms have challenged D-Wave's claims, replicating parts of the problem on laptops and GPUs in significantly less time.
  • D-Wave argues that these classical methods do not cover the full scope or scale of their quantum results, especially for larger and more complex systems.
  • The debate highlights the ongoing rivalry between quantum and classical computing, with advancements on both sides pushing the boundaries of computational capabilities.