Scientists have made a big breakthrough in quantum computing! D-Wave Systems used their Advantage2 quantum computer to solve a super difficult problem in just 20 minutes. If a regular supercomputer tried to do the same thing, it would have taken almost a million years! This shows that quantum computers might actually be useful for solving real-world problems, not just experiments in labs. The problem they solved was related to materials science, which could help with building better technology in the future.
The problem had to do with how magnetic materials work, which is important for things like cell phones and medical machines. D-Wave’s CEO, Alan Baratz, said this proves that their type of quantum computer can handle problems regular computers just can’t. Unlike other quantum computers that are still being tested, D-Wave’s machine actually did something useful. This is a big deal because many people think quantum computers won’t be useful for a long time, but this shows they might be closer than we thought.
After the announcement, D-Wave’s stock price went up by 8% because investors got excited about their progress. Other quantum companies, like IonQ, also saw their stocks rise, which means people are starting to believe in quantum computing more. Even though some experts say we’re still far from having quantum computers that everyone can use, this is proof that they are getting better and might soon solve real-world problems much faster than any computer we have today.