China introduced a groundbreaking quantum supercomputer Zuchongzhi-3 scientists claim processes tasks quadrillion times faster than the world’s most powerful classical supercomputer and a million times faster than Google Sycamore. The development led by researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) marks a major leap in the global quantum computing race at global level.
Zuchongzhi-3, a superconducting quantum prototype, features 105 readable qubits and 182 couplers, allowing it to execute quantum random circuit sampling (RCS) at unprecedented speeds. The research, published in Physical Review Letters, suggests that the new system surpasses Google’s latest quantum benchmark from October 2024 by six orders of magnitude.
Google’s Sycamore set a milestone in 2019 by completing an RCS task in 200 seconds, a process that would take classical supercomputers 10,000 years. However, Zuchongzhi-3’s advancements in processor fabrication and wiring configuration have widened the gap between classical and quantum computing.
“This machine has reached new heights in readout and control precision,” said Zhu Xiaobo, a professor at USTC, emphasizing that reducing error rates is the next key challenge. The long-term goal is to develop a fault-tolerant general quantum computer, capable of transforming artificial intelligence, biology, national security, and pharmaceutical production.
As China accelerates its dominance in quantum technology, this breakthrough signals a new era in computing, with far-reaching implications for global tech competition and scientific discovery.