Rich Wyatt

$IONQ VP of Engineering & Public Sector CTO Cameron Chehreh just gave a very encouraging update on the 256-qubit “golden flower” system. Key highlights below. On track for the build: “I’m very happy to report we’re on track. Our first ‘golden flower’ system is currently being built, which is our 256-qubit system.” The architecture shift: “The hypothesis we walked into was moving away from the old architecture into this really brilliant, innovative architecture: trapping ions in a photonic-based semiconductor QPU.” On the 10,000-qubit roadmap: The 256-qubit system is the bridge machine to the rest of the roadmap. The “jump” is the step from 256 qubits to 10,000. “We believe that jump, based on what we’re seeing here with the results in that 256 system, we’re going to make those dates.” “So the roadmap to 10,000 qubits, we’re going to hold to the date we published.” On the team’s progress: “We’re seeing better than anticipated results in not only the design function, but the really brilliant work that John Gamble and his team are doing on the algo side, along with our research team under Martin and Msaka.” On what’s coming: Cameron is “hoping for a few aha moments outside of Qday because I think people need something positive to look at.” “I believe the delivery of the 256 will be one of those.” “The only surprises I would offer you that are coming is I think we’ll shock people when we deliver the 256 system. I think that will create a new milestone that the world’s not seeing, and then from there we’ll execute on the roadmap to 10,000.”