Latest news with #Majorana
CNBC
28-04-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Microsoft says U.S. can't afford falling behind China in quantum computers
The U.S. cannot afford to fall behind China in the race to a working quantum computer, Microsoft President Brad Smith wrote Monday. President Donald Trump and the U.S. government need to prioritize funding for quantum research, or China could surpass the U.S., endangering economic competitiveness and security, Smith wrote. "While most believe that the United States still holds the lead position, we cannot afford to rule out the possibility of a strategic surprise or that China may already be at parity with the United States," Smith wrote. "Simply put, the United States cannot afford to fall behind, or worse, lose the race entirely." Microsoft's position is the latest sign that research into quantum computing is starting to heat up among big tech companies and investors who are looking for the next technology that could rival the artificial intelligence boom. Smith is calling for the Trump administration to increase funding for quantum research, renew the National Quantum Initiative Act and expand a program for testing quantum computers by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA. The Microsoft executive is also calling on the White House to expand the educational pipeline of people who have the math and science skills to work on quantum machines, fast-track immigration for Ph.D.s with quantum skills and for the government to buy more quantum-related computer parts to build a U.S. supply chain. Microsoft did not detail how China surpassing the U.S. in quantum computing technology would endanger national security, but a National Security Agency official last year discussed what could happen if China or another adversary surprised the U.S. by building a quantum computer first. The official, NSA Director of Research Gil Herrera, said that if such a "black swan" event happened, banks might not be able to keep transactions private because a quantum computer could crack their encryption, according to the Washington Times. A working quantum computer could also crack existing encrypted data that is usually shared publicly in a scrambled fashion, which could reveal secrets on U.S. nuclear weapon systems. In February, Microsoft announced its latest quantum chip called Majorana, claiming that it invented a new kind of matter to develop the prototype device. Last year, Google announced Willow, a new device the company claimed was a "milestone" because it was able to correct errors and solve a math problem in five minutes that would have taken longer than the age of the universe on a traditional computer. While the computers people are used to use bits that are either 0 or 1 to do calculations, quantum computers use "qubits," which end up being on or off based on probability. Experts say that quantum computers will eventually be useful for problems with nearly infinite possibilities, such as simulating chemistry, or routing deliveries. But the current quantum computers are far away from that point, and many computer industry participants say it could take decades for quantum computers to reach their potential. Microsoft's chip, Majorana, has eight qubits, but the company says it has a goal of least 1 million qubits for a commercially useful chip. Microsoft needs to build a device with a few hundred qubits before the company starts looking at whether it's reliable enough for customers.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Big Tech has officially entered its quantum era — here's what it means for the industry
International companies and organizations see 2025 as a tipping point for quantum technology. Major advancements are afoot as the industry navigates the "International Year of Quantum." Here's some of the biggest quantum news so far this year— and things to keep an eye on. The era of quantum is officially upon us, and if you're not immersed in the world of emerging tech, you may have missed the memo. The burgeoning field leverages quantum mechanics to solve complex problems faster than classical computers. It promises breakthroughs that could revolutionize fields from medicine to data privacy and is attracting major investments from world governments, tech giants, and equity firms seeking to capitalize on that potential. While the announcements of advanced quantum chips from the biggest of Big Tech players may have briefly broken through the news of the escalating trade war, alarming aviation accidents, and increasing political unrest, there's so much more to know about what's gone down in the industry so far in 2025, which the United Nations has dubbed the "International Year of Quantum." Here's some of the biggest quantum news so far this year — and things to keep an eye on. Skepticism is fading about whether the quantum industry can achieve all that it promises, and major discussions have now turned to the timeline to get there. According to research by Boston Consulting Group, the quantum industry attracted $1.2 billion from venture capitalists in 2023 despite a 50% drop in overall tech investments that year. BCG projects that quantum computing will create between $450 billion and $850 billion of economic value globally and sustain a $90-$170 billion market for hardware and software providers by 2040. The Big Tech players are all investing heavily in quantum advancement, hoping to catch up with IBM — a longtime frontrunner in the field, with several different prototype chips and its circuit-based commercial quantum computer, IBM Quantum System One, which was unveiled in January 2019. Amazon announced its Ocelot chip in February. The company says it represents a breakthrough in error correction and scalability, two key issues that have long slowed advancement in the field. Its announcement came just a week after Microsoft debuted its Majorana chip and only a few months after Google's Willow chip hit the scene in December. Nvidia is also aiming to get in on the action. This year, the company announced at GTC that it is developing a new quantum research lab in Boston. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Department of Defense's research and development agency, has expanded its Quantum Benchmarking Initiative this year in an attempt to achieve utility-scale operation by 2033. DARPA in early April announced it had chosen 18 companies to test and advance various technologies for creating qubits — the building block for quantum computers — including superconducting qubits, trapped ion qubits, and other novel approaches. Microsoft and PsiQuantum have already advanced to the third and final phase of DARPA's quantum initiative. IBM, IonQ, and Rigetti Computing are among the newest companies joining the QBI. IBM plans to debut the world's first quantum-centric supercomputer this year. This new system will use the modular IBM Quantum System Two architecture, which is designed to be scalable and upgradeable. It is expected to feature over 4,000 qubits and aims to break existing records in the field, eventually surpassing the size of the largest quantum computer by more than threefold. IBM CEO Arvind Krishna told Time in March that "something remarkable" is on the horizon for quantum technology and that the company has positioned itself to create the next generation of foundational technology through advancements in quantum. While we're on the cusp of a quantum revolution, cybersecurity professionals have previously warned Business Insider that the tech comes with its own risks. It's not just basic data privacy or the chance of personal financial details becoming public. From national security secrets to the blockchain and beyond, all encrypted data will be readily accessible and, more worryingly, manipulatable by anyone with a fully fault-tolerant and quantum-capable system. Karl Holmqvist has served as a quantum security advisor to major government bodies, including the Department of Defense and NATO. He is the CEO of Lastwall, which provides cybersecurity solutions designed to protect users from quantum computing threats. "When you start peeling back the layers, it's like anything that's internet-connected will likely have problems," Holmqvist previously told BI. "A lot of the time, we trust that the links between systems are secure and the data that's gone between them is secure, and there's no way to get into those that they're encrypted. If you take away that default assumption, it allows so many new entry points into systems that it becomes quite concerning." LinkedIn shows that the salary bands for jobs in quantum computing range from $150,000 on the low end to well past $500,000 a year, depending on the role and company. Hiring managers are paying attention. Yaad Oren, a managing director at SAP Labs, one of the world's biggest software companies, previously told Business Insider that recruiters in the field look for curiosity more than anything else. "Of course, we need expertise — and quantum is a very deep science and practice that requires a lot of knowledge — but if you follow the industry, you see there are also many disruptions going with quantum," Oren said. "We're definitely looking for change agents and curiosity is needed because, I mean, the industry is not sure at all that the current quantum technology we have now will be the winning architecture." He added: "It's like building a building from the ground floor." Read the original article on Business Insider
Globe and Mail
15-04-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
IonQ vs. Rigetti: Which Quantum Computing Stock Is the Better Buy?
As the artificial intelligence (AI) race heats up with massive investments from the likes of Google (GOOGL), Microsoft (MSFT), Meta (META) and Amazon (AMZN), among others, it seems that the tech titans have already identified the next major landscape to dominate: Quantum Computing. Slated to have a $2 trillion impact by 2035, quantum computing finds applications in a vast array of industries, ranging from cryptography to drug discovery. And with major players like Google (through its Willow chip), Microsoft (through its Majorana chip) and Amazon (through its Ocelot chip) already making major moves, it is safe to assume that this can be the next magtrend in tech. While mega-cap tech giants may have seemingly unlimited reserves of cash that they can pour into winning the quantum computing battle, the nimble, pure-play enterprises of the sector have had a headstart. Two such names are IonQ (IONQ) and Rigetti Computing (RGTI). But which one is a better buy? Let's stack up the two companies and try to find out. #1: Comparing Financials Both companies are yet to be profitable, which is not a cause for a major concern in a rapidly growing and evolving industry like quantum computing. In the most recent quarter, Rigetti reported revenues of $2.3 million, down 33% from the previous year, while losses widened considerably to $0.68 per share from $0.09 per share in the year-ago period. However, the company remains in a solid liquidity position overall with a cash and equivalents balance of $67.7 million (vs $21.4 million in the year-ago period) with short-term debt of just $2.2 million on its books. On the other hand, IonQ saw a remarkable 95% yearly jump in revenues to $43.1 million in 2024, exceeding the high end of the previously announced guidance range of $38.5 million to $42.5 million. Although this was accompanied by a substantial widening of net losses to $331.6 million from $157.8 million in the year-ago period, bookings for the full year came in at $95.6 million, which denoted yearly growth of 46.9%. In terms of liquidity, IonQ is in a comfortable position with a cash and equivalents balance at the end of the year at $340.3 million, much higher than its short-term debt levels of just $3.4 million. #2: Comparing Strategic Developments While IonQ and Rigetti Computing both operate within the frontier of quantum computing, they pursue distinct technological paths that reflect differing strategic ambitions. IonQ has built its foundation on the development of general-purpose trapped-ion quantum processors. These systems use atomic ions as qubits, an approach that offers longer coherence times and reduced operational noise compared to superconducting architectures. Such advantages become more pronounced as quantum workloads scale, supporting greater precision in complex computations. IonQ's hardware is fully integrated within a cloud-native stack, providing customers with end-to-end access through its proprietary platform and Amazon Web Services' managed quantum service. The company's latest release, the IonQ Forte Enterprise, is available to global clients and signals a commitment to commercial deployment at scale. IonQ's technological strategy is complemented by a deep network of high-profile partners across both tech and industry verticals. Its alliances with Amazon, Google, and Microsoft serve to validate its infrastructure and enhance cloud interoperability, while collaborations with firms like Hyundai (HYMTF), AstraZeneca (AZN), and Airbus (EADSY) underscore its relevance across transportation, healthcare, and aerospace sectors. With this breadth of engagement and strong system-level performance, IonQ has begun to carve out a defensible position in the broader commercial quantum landscape. Rigetti, meanwhile, focuses on superconducting quantum systems and maintains full-stack control of its chip development and fabrication. The company operates its own production facility — Fab-1 — in Fremont, California, and has secured more than 200 patents in its intellectual property portfolio. Rigetti is credited with producing the first multi-chip quantum processor, positioning itself as a leader in modular, scalable architectures. In a recent milestone, Rigetti unveiled the Ankaa-3 system, an 84-qubit processor designed to enhance gate fidelity and suppress error rates — an area that continues to challenge all quantum computing platforms. The Ankaa-3 achieves a 99.0% median fidelity for iSWAP gates and 99.5% for fSim gates, marking a material advancement. The system is accessible to partners through Rigetti's own Quantum Cloud Services and also integrates with Amazon Braket and Microsoft Azure, broadening access to enterprise users. Rigetti's roadmap for fiscal year 2025 is equally ambitious. It plans to launch a 36-qubit, four-chip system in the second quarter with further reductions in gate error, followed by a 108-qubit system in the fourth quarter that is expected to deliver similar gains. These next-generation platforms are poised to raise the bar for fault-tolerant superconducting designs. The company has also cultivated important relationships with national laboratories and research institutions. Notable collaborators include the UK's National Quantum Computing Centre, NASA, the Air Force Research Laboratory, DARPA, and Fermilab. Commercial partnerships with entities like Standard Chartered (SCBFY), Moody's (MCO), and AWS further illustrate Rigetti's cross-sector appeal and access to real-world deployment opportunities. In sum, IonQ demonstrates early strength in system fidelity, software integration, and commercial traction — particularly in use cases that demand precision and scale. Rigetti, by contrast, has made strong progress in multi-chip design, error reduction, and government-led quantum initiatives. While their technical foundations diverge, both companies remain vital to the evolution of quantum computing's enterprise potential. #3: Comparing Share Price Performance 2025 has not been kind to the Rigetti stock, with the name correcting by 41% on a YTD basis. However, over the past year, the stock has seen a surge of 662%. Its current market cap is at $2.6 billion. The same is the case with IonQ, which has seen a narrower decline of 39% in 2025 so far, with the stock up 217% over the past year. Its market cap is currently at $5.8 billion. #4: Comparing Analyst Opinions Overall, analysts have deemed Rigetti stock a 'Strong Buy' with a mean target price of $14.80, which indicates an upside potential of about 62.6% from current levels. Out of five analysts covering the stock, four have a 'Strong Buy' rating and one has a 'Moderate Buy' rating. While for IonQ, analysts have attributed an overall rating of 'Moderate Buy' with a mean target price of $44.60. This denotes an upside potential of roughly 71% from current levels. Out of five analysts covering the stock, three have a 'Strong Buy' rating, one has a 'Moderate Buy' rating, and one has a 'Hold' rating.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists Question Microsoft's Quantum Computing 'Breakthrough'
PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing. Some physicists are questioning Microsoft's February claim that it made a significant breakthrough in quantum computing. The claims are "not reliable and must be revisited," says Henry Legg, a quantum physicist at the University of St. Andrews. Microsoft said its team made significant progress on a 20-year quest to create the first "topological qubits" with Majorana particles. Legg says the company's work lacks a "consistent definition," and the results "vary significantly, even for measurements of the same device." Microsoft's quantum VP, Zulfi Alam, commented on Legg's post and called him a "pontificator" who didn't "bother to read the papers or even try to understand the data." Microsoft published its findings in Nature, but its paper was not peer-reviewed. 'While the Nature paper outlined our approach, it does not speak to our progress,' a Microsoft spokesperson told Nature in a statement. The paper was also published about a year after Microsoft wrote it. The company claims "tremendous progress has occurred" since then but does not appear to have followed up with a more detailed paper. Another physicist questioned the news on social media shortly after it came out. "So, you mean to tell me that the thing we've been trying to for or the last, what, 20 years, unsuccessfully, and have been tearing our hair guys just casually, no problem, did it?" she says on TikTok. "So are you going to elaborate on how you did that, or any of your results?" Meanwhile, Amazon's head of quantum technologies, Simone Severini, said the paper in Nature "doesn't actually demonstrate" that it can do what it says, according to a newly obtained email to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, Business Insider reports. He conceded that it "seems to be a meaningful technical advancement" but doubted it was a true breakthrough. In a series of internal Slack messages, Oskar Painter, Amazon's head of quantum hardware, called Microsoft's quantum computing press releases "net level (in BS and hype)." Amazon revealed a new quantum computing chip in February 2025, called Ocelot, and Google revealed its quantum chip, , in December 2024.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT) is Plunging So Far in 2025
We recently compiled a list of the . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:QUBT) stands against the other AI stocks. Investors have been turning sour on the AI industry. Many have expected AI stocks to decline for the past two years, but that did not turn out to be the case and AI companies proved bears wrong in each of the past eight or so quarters. Microsoft has canceled its data center contracts and Trump's tariff plans are increasingly complicating the AI narrative, especially for semiconductor companies that derive a good portion of their revenue from China. Perhaps AI could prove the bears wrong again, but considering even Nvidia's recent earnings beat failed to overpower the cautiousness investors now have about AI, it is worth looking into some bearish arguments. A good way to do that is by looking into AI stocks that have corrected the most so far this year. The AI industry is quite broad and you'll be able to gain useful insight into some major AI sectors and their challengers if you look into why these stocks have been declining. For this article, I screened the worst-performing AI stocks year-to-date. Stocks that I have covered recently will be excluded from this list. I will also mention the number of hedge fund investors in these stocks. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (). A data analyst pouring over a chart, the intricacies of its lines being revealed. Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 6 Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:QUBT) is a quantum computing company. The stock is down significantly so far in 2025 due to the broader AI industry starting to correct as investors turn sour. Microsoft canceled some of its data center leases and the spillover effect is partly why Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:QUBT) stock has declined. Several class action lawsuits have been filed against Quantum Computing Inc., alleging that the company overstated its tech, progress on its thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) foundry, and revenues from related-party transactions. Furthermore, Microsoft's Majorana announcement was a great breakthrough, but it failed to drive up long-term hype in quantum computing stocks. As with most quantum computing startups, the company is dilutive and unprofitable. The consensus price target of $8.5 implies 24.09% upside. Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:QUBT) is down 58.58% year-to-date. Overall QUBT ranks 2nd on our list of the AI stocks that are plunging so far in 2025. While we acknowledge the potential of QUBT as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than QUBT but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the . READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks to Buy Now and Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
