A study by researchers at IonQ and Aalto University finds that distributed quantum computers built from multiple linked processors can outperform a single larger machine, even when the connections between processors are relatively slow.
Using simulations of realistic, intentionally conservative hardware conditions, the researchers show that carefully designed modular architectures can achieve lower error rates and shorter execution times than monolithic systems for certain classes of quantum circuits.
The results suggest that scaling quantum computers through modular designs may be viable in the near term, without waiting for major advances in ultra-fast quantum networking, though the advantage demonstrated is architectural rather than a claim of classical–quantum supremacy.
Oh, it’s been that time again when the company management, led by De Masi, has thanked investors for their trust and pocketed some chips. Wasn’t De Masi supposed to stop cashing out stock awards already, according to some talk? https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/stocks/ionq/insider-activity
Person
Position
Number of Shares
Sale Price
Value
Niccolo De Masi
CEO
16,290
50.49
$822,482.10
Scott Francis Millard
CFO
19,586
50.49
$988,897.14
Paul Dacier
CAO
4,132
50.49
$208,624.68
Inder Singh
COO
12,553
50.49
$633,800.97
Kathryn Chou
Lead Independent Director
20,000
51.4
$1,028,000.00
Nice to notice that even the new CFO got their first proper payday right away and learned the company’s ways. The previous CFO left the company a month ago and, on their way out, dumped 4.7 million worth of shares onto the market.
Thanks for bringing this up @timontti and indeed – this is how it should go: IonQ’s Capella Space (satellites incl. SAR technology) and Vector Atomic (identification, positioning etc. with sensing quantum technology) bring growing revenue and can bolt IonQ into the core of the missile defense system. And, as you said @timontti, we can calmly follow the development of quantum computing; it takes time, but things don’t need to be forced to completion by next year. Because this public sector involvement keeps the company in cash flow.
It’s a great moment when your own companies are involved in building the world’s most significant missile defense system.
And on the list is also Coldquanta, or Infleqtion. Infleqtion (INFQ) plans to go public by merging with the SPAC Churchill Capital Corp X (NASDAQ: CCCX). The merger has already been confirmed, and as a result, the company will list on Nasdaq under the ticker INFQ.
It feels like IonQ has been making quite a few deals during late autumn; there was the expansion of the Basel business earlier, etc. At the moment, the stock market is having trouble making sense of these deals, and IonQ doesn’t have time to make a big deal out of every single one. Even though just 2 years ago, every deal in late autumn would have been a breakthrough. That’s how development develops. But anyway, IonQ is doing well now.
Yes, Infleqtion belongs to the “organic” side of quantum computing, just like IonQ. Infleqtion, like IonQ, manipulates atoms and subatomic particles. The other group consists of the creators of synthetic qubits, such as the superconducting Rigetti, which builds qubits using magnetic fields, or D-Wave, which creates a quantum environment for the actual computation through software. Personally, I prefer following these “organic” companies because the atom somehow feels easier to conceptualize compared to magnetic fields or software-based qubit/gate simulations. Anyone who can describe these technologies better is welcome to correct or supplement this.
“Today, U.S. Senators introduced the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act. This bipartisan legislation strengthens U.S. leadership in quantum, accelerates real-world applications, and reinforces quantum innovation as vital to our economy and national security.”
This is at least more of a positive thing than a negative one. Need to look into this more closely.
Chris Ballance hinted yesterday in Davos (link below, at 1:03:30) that IonQ is installing a few-hundred-qubit quantum computer in Basel:
“…a few hundred qubits - something of the size we are installing in Quantum Basel over the next few months…”
And continued that in terms of computing power, this would correspond to 10^20 Nvidia GPUs. If the same calculation were done classically, it would require 70 billion times the Earth’s current electricity production. Quite something.
Thanks @Pyhimys for the highlight. This quantum computing genre is at an interesting stage, and we might hear news about a significant increase in qubit counts in the coming months already. I suppose these times can be seen in the IT world as a moment similar to the transition from wood splints to electricity.
This is a fun phase to follow because current valuations don’t price in the scenario where those quantum horsepowers are made to work, taking AI forward with a massive leap and minimizing energy consumption.
We’ll see. If quantum computing doesn’t break through right away, IonQ has a range of other technologies in its portfolio that already work, such as sensing.
The technology acquired from Oxford likely works so well that AQ256 will be released faster than expected. With it, IONQ will take a clear lead in the computing market—that would represent the final stages of the NISQ era. No more time would then need to be spent on Tempo’s lasers…
At the same time, one would assume the market will start anticipating the 2027 machine. Perhaps in the summer, if the 256 becomes readily available?
