Chinese company Origin has produced a domestically usable quantum computer that has real-world applications.
A report by Science and Technology Daily, one of the country’s state-owned newspapers, confirmed that Origin’s Wuyuan quantum computer has been in use for a year, but did not say which customer or industry was using it.
China now joins the United States and Canada as the only countries known to have this cutting-edge technology on a scale.
More in the future?
Origin’s Wuyuan has impressive specs, including a 24-qubit processor with superconducting chip technology. It also has its own software package, as well as the ability to work in the cloud, so you can use it remotely.
Moreover, Origin is working on its next quantum computer called Wukong, which is rumored to be coming in the near future. Interestingly, in the ongoing US-China chip war, Origin was not blacklisted for using US quantum computing technologies like other sellers (opens in a new tab)suggesting that perhaps Origin’s creations are entirely his own.
Although it looks like there is only one Wuyuan in use, it is reports (opens in a new tab) that more may come or in fact already be used by other customers.
Quantum computing is the next stage of supercomputing, using the principles of quantum mechanics to radically change the architecture of how computers work to achieve exponentially higher speeds than standard supercomputers. High-level applications of quantum computing include weapons development, complex problem solving, codebreaking, and scientific research.
Major chip manufacturers are committed to this cutting-edge technology. For example, IBM recently developed a powerful 433-qubit processor, and even hopes to make quick progress beyond that, boldly claiming that a 4,000-qubit processor will be produced by 2025.
If such claims are realized and the general atmosphere of optimism around quantum computing proves to be justified, then some seismic discoveries and breakthroughs in all kinds of fields may be in store.
- For now, you’ll have to make do with the best PCs you can buy right now