Chinese scientists challenge Google’s ‘quantum supremacy’ claim with new algorithm

US tech firm in 2019 said its Sycamore processor did a task in three minutes and 20 seconds that would take a classical supercomputer 10,000 years. Researchers in Beijing say they took a different approach that saw 60 graphics processors complete the job ‘in about five days’. — SCMP

A team of Chinese researchers say they have found a “massively more efficient” and more accurate way to simulate quantum computing using traditional processors, challenging a 2019 claim by Google scientists that they had achieved “quantum supremacy”.

Quantum computing is still in its infancy but promises to take computational power to a new level by manipulating subatomic particles. Scientists hope it will help lead to breakthroughs in areas such as materials science and developing new drugs.