D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) announced a major milestone in quantum computing, demonstrating for the first time that its annealing quantum computer outperformed one of the world’s most powerful classical supercomputers in solving complex materials simulation problems. This breakthrough, published in Science, validates D-Wave’s quantum supremacy in a real-world application, a feat that has remained elusive for other quantum computing approaches.
In collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and an international team of researchers, D-Wave performed quantum dynamics simulations of programmable spin glasses—highly challenging magnetic materials simulations with practical applications across business and science. The study showed that D-Wave’s Advantage2 prototype solved the most complex simulations in minutes with accuracy that would take a classical supercomputer nearly one million years to achieve. Additionally, performing the same task on a GPU-based supercomputer would consume more than the world’s annual electricity supply.
- First real-world demonstration of quantum computational supremacy – Unlike prior claims, this experiment solved a practically useful problem beyond classical reach.
- Magnetic materials simulation at unprecedented speed – D-Wave’s quantum computer outperformed the Frontier supercomputer at ORNL, solving problems in minutes that would take millennia classically.
- Energy-efficient computation – Solving these complex simulations on a supercomputer would require an unsustainable amount of energy, whereas D-Wave’s quantum system operated efficiently.
- Advantage2 system advancements – The prototype’s fast anneal feature enabled high-precision quantum calculations, contributing to the demonstrated quantum advantage.
- Scientific validation – The study involved over 25 years of D-Wave research, two years of collaboration across 11 institutions, and more than 100,000 GPU/CPU hours.
“This is a remarkable day for quantum computing. Our demonstration of quantum computational supremacy on a useful problem is an industry first. Unlike previous claims, which were either disputed or involved problems with no practical value, our achievement unequivocally proves that D-Wave’s annealing quantum computers can solve meaningful problems beyond classical limits. We are thrilled that our customers can harness this technology today to drive real-world impact.”
— Dr. Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave