Quantum computing is one of the most exciting and promising fields of technology today. It aims to harness the power of quantum physics to perform calculations that are beyond the reach of classical computers. Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize various domains such as cryptography, artificial intelligence, drug discovery, and climate modeling.
However, quantum computing is also a highly competitive and challenging field. It requires overcoming many technical and scientific hurdles, such as creating and controlling qubits, the basic units of quantum information, and reducing the noise and errors that affect their performance. It also requires developing quantum algorithms, software, and applications that can take advantage of the quantum speedup.
In this blog post, we will compare and contrast some of the top quantum computing companies in 2024, based on their achievements, strategies, and prospects. We will focus on three emerging players: IonQ, Xanadu, and Rigetti, and how they stack up against the established giants: IBM, Google, and Microsoft.
IonQ: The Leader in Trapped Ion Technology
IonQ is a quantum computing company that specializes in trapped ion technology. This approach uses electrically charged atoms, or ions, as qubits, and manipulates them with lasers. IonQ claims that trapped ion qubits are more stable and coherent than other types of qubits, and can be easily interconnected and scaled up.
IonQ was founded in 2015 by two professors from the University of Maryland and Duke University, and has received funding from prominent investors such as Amazon, Samsung, and Lockheed Martin. In 2021, IonQ became the first quantum computing company to go public through a merger with a SPAC, or special purpose acquisition company, valuing it at $2 billion1.
IonQ has achieved several milestones in quantum computing, such as demonstrating the largest programmable quantum computer with 32 qubits in 20202, and achieving 29 algorithmic qubits on its IonQ Forte system in 20233. IonQ also offers access to its quantum computers through cloud platforms such as Amazon Braket and Microsoft Azure.
IonQ’s main advantage is its leadership in trapped ion technology, which is widely regarded as one of the most promising approaches for quantum computing. IonQ’s qubits have high fidelity and low crosstalk, which means they can perform more complex and accurate calculations. IonQ also has a strong patent portfolio and a close relationship with academic institutions.
IonQ’s main challenge is to scale up its quantum computers to achieve quantum advantage, or the point where quantum computers can outperform classical computers for certain tasks. IonQ’s current systems have a limited number of qubits, and increasing them requires adding more lasers and hardware, which can increase the cost and complexity. IonQ also faces competition from other trapped ion companies, such as Oxford Quantum Circuits and QuEra.
Xanadu: The Pioneer in Photonic Quantum Computing
Xanadu is a quantum computing company that specializes in photonic quantum computing. This approach uses photons, or particles of light, as qubits, and manipulates them with optical devices. Xanadu claims that photonic qubits are more robust and scalable than other types of qubits, and can operate at room temperature.
Xanadu was founded in 2016 by a former researcher from the University of Toronto, and has received funding from prominent investors such as OMERS Ventures, Georgian Partners, and Tim Draper. In 2021, Xanadu raised $100 million in Series B funding, valuing it at $500 million4.
Xanadu has achieved several milestones in quantum computing, such as launching the world’s first cloud-based photonic quantum computer with 8 qubits in 20205, and demonstrating quantum machine learning algorithms on its 12-qubit X8 system in 2021. Xanadu also offers access to its quantum computers through its own cloud platform, Xanadu Quantum Cloud.
Xanadu’s main advantage is its pioneering role in photonic quantum computing, which is a novel and innovative approach for quantum computing. Xanadu’s qubits have low noise and high connectivity, which means they can perform fast and parallel calculations. Xanadu also has a strong focus on quantum software and applications, especially in the fields of machine learning, optimization, and chemistry.
Xanadu’s main challenge is to prove the viability and superiority of its photonic quantum computing technology, which is still in its early stages of development. Xanadu’s current systems have a small number of qubits, and increasing them requires improving the quality and integration of the optical components. Xanadu also faces competition from other photonic quantum companies, such as PsiQuantum and Lightmatter.
Rigetti: The Innovator in Superconducting Quantum Computing
Rigetti is a quantum computing company that specializes in superconducting quantum computing. This approach uses superconducting circuits, or loops of metal, as qubits, and manipulates them with microwave pulses. Rigetti claims that superconducting qubits are more flexible and programmable than other types of qubits, and can be fabricated using existing semiconductor techniques.
Rigetti was founded in 2013 by a former researcher from IBM, and has received funding from prominent investors such as Andreessen Horowitz, Y Combinator, and SoftBank. In 2021, Rigetti announced that it will go public through a merger with a SPAC, valuing it at $1.5 billion.
Rigetti has achieved several milestones in quantum computing, such as building the first cloud-based quantum computer with 19 qubits in 2017, and winning a $10 million contract from the U.S. government to develop a quantum computer with 128 qubits in 2020. Rigetti also offers access to its quantum computers through its own cloud platform, Rigetti Quantum Cloud Services.
Rigetti’s main advantage is its innovation and ambition in superconducting quantum computing, which is the most widely used and developed approach for quantum computing. Rigetti’s qubits have high tunability and compatibility, which means they can perform diverse and customized calculations. Rigetti also has a strong vision and roadmap for achieving quantum advantage, and a close collaboration with the government and industry sectors.
Rigetti’s main challenge is to catch up and compete with the giants in superconducting quantum computing, such as IBM, Google, and Microsoft, which have more resources and experience in the field. Rigetti’s current systems have a moderate number of qubits, and increasing them requires overcoming the challenges of coherence, calibration, and error correction. Rigetti also faces competition from other superconducting quantum companies, such as D-Wave and Quantum Circuits.
Comparison with Google, IBM, and Microsoft: In this section, we will compare and contrast the three emerging quantum computing companies (IonQ, Xanadu, and Rigetti) with the three established quantum computing giants (Google, IBM, and Microsoft). We will look at some of the similarities and differences in their quantum hardware, software, services, and strategies.
Quantum hardware: One of the main factors that determines the performance and potential of quantum computers is the type and quality of qubits they use. Qubits are the basic units of quantum information that can exist in superpositions of two states, such as 0 and 1. There are different ways to create and manipulate qubits, such as using trapped ions, photons, superconductors, or topological insulators. Each approach has its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of scalability, coherence, fidelity, and noise.
Google and IBM use superconducting qubits, which are based on circuits of superconducting materials that can carry electric currents without resistance. Superconducting qubits are relatively easy to fabricate and integrate, and can operate at high speeds and frequencies. However, they also require extremely low temperatures and are susceptible to noise and interference from the environment. Google and IBM have achieved some of the highest qubit counts and quantum volume (a measure of quantum computing power) among the current quantum platforms. Google claimed to have achieved quantum supremacy (the ability to perform a task that is infeasible for classical computers) in 2019 with its 53-qubit Sycamore processor, while IBM announced quantum advantage (the ability to demonstrate a clear benefit over classical computers) in 2020 with its 65-qubit Hummingbird processor. Both companies have ambitious roadmaps to scale up their quantum hardware, with Google aiming for a million-qubit error-corrected quantum computer by 2029, and IBM targeting a 1,000-qubit quantum computer by 2023.
Microsoft uses topological qubits, which are based on exotic particles called anyons that can exhibit quantum properties at higher temperatures and lower noise levels than other qubits. Topological qubits are expected to be more robust and stable, and require less error correction than other qubits. However, they are also more difficult to create and control, and have not yet been demonstrated in a working quantum computer. Microsoft is still working on developing its topological qubits, and has not revealed any details about its quantum hardware specifications or timeline.
IonQ uses trapped ion qubits, which are based on individual atoms that are trapped and manipulated by lasers and magnetic fields. Trapped ion qubits are highly coherent and accurate, and can interact with each other over long distances. However, they are also challenging to scale and integrate, and require sophisticated equipment and expertise to operate. IonQ has achieved some of the highest algorithmic qubits (a measure of quantum computing power that takes into account both the number and quality of qubits) among the current quantum platforms. IonQ claims to have the world’s most powerful quantum computer, with 32 qubits and 4.5 million algorithmic qubits, and plans to double its qubit count every eight months.
Xanadu uses photonic qubits, which are based on individual photons that are generated and manipulated by optical devices. Photonic qubits are fast and versatile, and can operate at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. However, they are also difficult to detect and measure, and require complex and precise optical components and circuits. Xanadu has developed a unique approach to quantum computing, using continuous-variable (CV) qubits that can encode an infinite number of states, rather than discrete qubits that can only encode two states. Xanadu claims to have the world’s first photonic quantum computer, with 8 qubits and 128 algorithmic qubits, and aims to scale up to 40 qubits by 2022.
Rigetti uses superconducting qubits, similar to Google and IBM, but with a different architecture and design. Rigetti uses 3D transmon qubits, which are a type of superconducting qubits that have improved coherence and scalability. Rigetti also uses a modular approach to quantum computing, where multiple quantum processors can be connected and controlled by a classical processor. Rigetti has launched several generations of quantum processors, with the latest being the 32-qubit Aspen-9 processor, and plans to scale up to 80 qubits by 2022.
Quantum software: Another important factor that determines the usability and functionality of quantum computers is the software that runs on them. Quantum software includes the programming languages, frameworks, libraries, and tools that enable developers to create and run quantum algorithms and applications. There are different levels of abstraction and complexity in quantum software, from low-level assembly languages that directly control the qubits, to high-level languages that use classical logic and syntax.
Google, IBM, and Microsoft have developed their own quantum programming languages, namely Cirq, Qiskit, and Q#, respectively. These languages are designed to work with their own quantum hardware, but can also be compatible with other quantum platforms through interfaces and simulators. These languages are also integrated with their own cloud services, namely Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, and Azure, respectively, which allow users to access and run quantum programs on their quantum computers or simulators. These languages also provide various libraries and tools for quantum machine learning, optimization, chemistry, and cryptography, among other domains.