Latest news with #Ocelot
CNBC
09-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
How Amazon plans to catch Google and Microsoft in the quantum computing race
Another major player has entered the quantum-computing race: Amazon. The tech giant is the latest to make waves in the field with the February announcement of Ocelot, its own quantum chip. Amazon joins fierce competition from familiar rivals in cloud computing as Google, Microsoft and others race after what they say could be their next frontier. While Amazon is widely known as an e-commerce giant, its business took a pivotal and profitable turn in 2006 with the launch of Amazon Web Services. AWS is now a more than $100 billion business and a key part of why Amazon is worth over $2 trillion. The company sees quantum as the next major growth area for its cloud services. "There's a … strong business case for AWS or Amazon to get involved with quantum computing," Oskar Painter, director of quantum hardware for Amazon Web Services, told CNBC. "Quantum computing is very much in line with that sort of business model where you would have off-premise quantum computing resources that can be made accessible through the cloud." Part of the hype with quantum computing is the perceived payoff down the line. While still years away from commercial applications, McKinsey projects quantum could be a $173 billion market by 2040. "The opportunity to build just a supercharged part of AWS that can crack incredibly difficult problems, whether it's related to drug discovery or cybersecurity … that is an opportunity for them to charge a lot more," said Gene Munster, managing partner at Deepwater Asset Management. CNBC's Kate Rooney got an exclusive look inside the AWS Center for Quantum Computing located at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California. Founded in 2019, Amazon's partnership with the university is starting to yield results, as it showcased the Ocelot quantum processor. Amazon says the chip, which it designed and fabricated in-house, uses a scalable architecture that reduces error correction by up to 90 percent. That's a key obstacle in developing these machines. Google's Willow chip, which was unveiled in December, also demonstrated improvements in this area. Ocelot uses "cat qubits," named after the Schrödinger's cat thought experiment. The company says the design intrinsically suppresses certain forms of errors, reducing the resources required for quantum error correction. "The heart of these quantum computing systems … it's really this quantum processor" Painter said. "The details of how that happens is really what differentiates one hardware platform from another – and really is where the secret sauce is and where all the intellectual property is." Munster said quantum-computing should be thought of as a new vertical within the AWS cloud business. "In the end, it will probably be solved and monetized through one of these big cloud platforms," Munster said. "And AWS has a great shot at being successful there." Watch the video as Kate Rooney goes behind-the-scenes at Amazon and learns how the company is taking on Google and Microsoft in the quantum computing race.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2 Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy Right Now
Quantum computing represents the next technological frontier, potentially revolutionizing fields from drug discovery to cybersecurity. The global quantum computing market is expected to grow exponentially in the coming decades. These two companies are foundational players in the quantum computing revolution. Quantum computing stands at the precipice of transforming our technological landscape. In 1981, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman first proposed the concept of quantum computers, recognizing that classical machines could never efficiently simulate quantum systems. Unlike classical computers that process information in binary bits (0s and 1s), quantum computers leverage quantum mechanics principles (superposition and entanglement) to rapidly perform complex calculations. This revolutionary approach promises to solve problems previously deemed impossible, from drug discovery and materials science to financial modeling and artificial intelligence (AI) optimization. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » Though still in its nascent development phase, the quantum computing market is rapidly accelerating toward commercial viability. According to Fortune Business Insights, the market value is projected to rise from $1.2 billion in 2024 to $12.6 billion by 2032, reflecting a remarkable compound annual growth rate of 35%. This trajectory offers astute investors a rare ground-floor opportunity in what could be the defining technological innovation of the 21st century. Here is an overview of two big tech companies poised to capitalize on quantum computing's extraordinary potential. Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) has established a formidable presence in quantum computing through its cloud division, Amazon Web Services (AWS). In 2019, AWS launched Amazon Braket, a specialized quantum computing service that offers developers and researchers pay-as-you-go access to various quantum hardware platforms, including those from IonQ, Rigetti Computing, and QuEra Computing. This marketplace approach allows customers to experiment with different quantum technologies without a massive up-front capital investment or an extensive development timeline. Amazon isn't a one-trick pony only in the quantum realm, however. In February 2025, AWS unveiled Ocelot, its first in-house quantum chip designed to tackle quantum error correction -- the primary obstacle to practical quantum computing. Ocelot's architecture reduces error-correction resource requirements by up to 90% compared to conventional approaches, potentially accelerating the timetable for commercially viable quantum computing applications. For investors, Amazon's strategy minimizes technological risk while leveraging AWS' dominant cloud market position to monetize quantum computing regardless of which hardware approach ultimately prevails. As enterprises begin exploring quantum applications for optimization problems, drug discovery, and financial modeling, AWS stands to benefit as both service provider and technology developer. International Business Machines (NYSE: IBM) is quantum computing's frontrunner, thanks to decades of consistent investment and innovation in the groundbreaking tech. In April 2025, IBM announced plans to invest $150 billion in America over the next five years, including more than $30 billion specifically for research and development to advance its manufacturing of mainframe and quantum computers. This commitment strengthens IBM's position as the operator of what it calls the world's largest fleet of quantum computing systems. IBM's quantum roadmap has reached significant milestones with the deployment of the Condor and Heron processors. The 1,121-qubit Condor processor represents a breakthrough in scale with a 50% increase in qubit density, while the 133-qubit Heron processor delivers 3 to 5 times higher performance over previous generations. In 2024, IBM demonstrated that Heron can execute circuits with 5,000 two-qubit gates, a critical threshold that moves quantum computing into the realm of practical utility. Looking forward, the company has extended its quantum roadmap through 2033, planning increasingly powerful systems capable of executing more complex quantum circuits. IBM projects a major inflection point in 2029 with its Starling processor executing 100 million gates over 200 qubits, followed by Blue Jay reaching 1 billion gates across 2,000 qubits by 2033. For investors, IBM's dual focus on quantum hardware advancement and cloud-based quantum services provides multiple revenue opportunities as the industry transitions from experimental to commercial applications. Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you'll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a 'Double Down' stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you're worried you've already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it's too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you'd have $296,928!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you'd have $38,933!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you'd have $623,685!* Right now, we're issuing 'Double Down' alerts for three incredible companies, available when you join , and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon.*Stock Advisor returns as of April 28, 2025 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. George Budwell has positions in IonQ and Rigetti Computing. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon and International Business Machines. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2 Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy Right Now was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
Globe and Mail
04-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
2 Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy Right Now
Quantum computing stands at the precipice of transforming our technological landscape. In 1981, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman first proposed the concept of quantum computers, recognizing that classical machines could never efficiently simulate quantum systems. Unlike classical computers that process information in binary bits (0s and 1s), quantum computers leverage quantum mechanics principles (superposition and entanglement) to rapidly perform complex calculations. This revolutionary approach promises to solve problems previously deemed impossible, from drug discovery and materials science to financial modeling and artificial intelligence (AI) optimization. Though still in its nascent development phase, the quantum computing market is rapidly accelerating toward commercial viability. According to Fortune Business Insights, the market value is projected to rise from $1.2 billion in 2024 to $12.6 billion by 2032, reflecting a remarkable compound annual growth rate of 35%. This trajectory offers astute investors a rare ground-floor opportunity in what could be the defining technological innovation of the 21st century. Here is an overview of two big tech companies poised to capitalize on quantum computing's extraordinary potential. The e-commerce giant with a quantum edge Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) has established a formidable presence in quantum computing through its cloud division, Amazon Web Services (AWS). In 2019, AWS launched Amazon Braket, a specialized quantum computing service that offers developers and researchers pay-as-you-go access to various quantum hardware platforms, including those from IonQ, Rigetti Computing, and QuEra Computing. This marketplace approach allows customers to experiment with different quantum technologies without a massive up-front capital investment or an extensive development timeline. Amazon isn't a one-trick pony only in the quantum realm, however. In February 2025, AWS unveiled Ocelot, its first in-house quantum chip designed to tackle quantum error correction -- the primary obstacle to practical quantum computing. Ocelot's architecture reduces error-correction resource requirements by up to 90% compared to conventional approaches, potentially accelerating the timetable for commercially viable quantum computing applications. For investors, Amazon's strategy minimizes technological risk while leveraging AWS' dominant cloud market position to monetize quantum computing regardless of which hardware approach ultimately prevails. As enterprises begin exploring quantum applications for optimization problems, drug discovery, and financial modeling, AWS stands to benefit as both service provider and technology developer. The quantum pioneer with a key first-mover advantage International Business Machines (NYSE: IBM) is quantum computing's frontrunner, thanks to decades of consistent investment and innovation in the groundbreaking tech. In April 2025, IBM announced plans to invest $150 billion in America over the next five years, including more than $30 billion specifically for research and development to advance its manufacturing of mainframe and quantum computers. This commitment strengthens IBM's position as the operator of what it calls the world's largest fleet of quantum computing systems. IBM's quantum roadmap has reached significant milestones with the deployment of the Condor and Heron processors. The 1,121-qubit Condor processor represents a breakthrough in scale with a 50% increase in qubit density, while the 133-qubit Heron processor delivers 3 to 5 times higher performance over previous generations. In 2024, IBM demonstrated that Heron can execute circuits with 5,000 two-qubit gates, a critical threshold that moves quantum computing into the realm of practical utility. Looking forward, the company has extended its quantum roadmap through 2033, planning increasingly powerful systems capable of executing more complex quantum circuits. IBM projects a major inflection point in 2029 with its Starling processor executing 100 million gates over 200 qubits, followed by Blue Jay reaching 1 billion gates across 2,000 qubits by 2033. For investors, IBM's dual focus on quantum hardware advancement and cloud-based quantum services provides multiple revenue opportunities as the industry transitions from experimental to commercial applications. Don't miss this second chance at a potentially lucrative opportunity Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you'll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a 'Double Down' stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you're worried you've already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it's too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you'd have $296,928!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you'd have $38,933!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you'd have $623,685!* Right now, we're issuing 'Double Down' alerts for three incredible companies, available when you join Stock Advisor, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. See the 3 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of April 28, 2025
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.
