Quantum supremacy refers to the hypothetical point at which quantum computers can perform certain tasks beyond the capability of classical computers, even the most powerful ones. It’s a significant milestone in the development of quantum computing, demonstrating that quantum systems can solve problems that are practically infeasible for classical computers to solve in a reasonable amount of time.
One of the most famous demonstrations of quantum supremacy was Google’s claim in 2019. They reported that their 53-qubit quantum processor, named Sycamore, solved a specific problem in 200 seconds that would take the world’s most powerful classical supercomputers thousands of years to solve. This was a key moment in the advancement of quantum computing, though the term “supremacy” itself has stirred some debate.
It’s important to note that achieving quantum supremacy doesn’t mean quantum computers are immediately useful for all tasks or that they have surpassed classical computers in all aspects. Rather, it marks the point where quantum computers have demonstrated their potential to tackle certain problems more efficiently than classical computers. As quantum hardware and algorithms continue to improve, we may see more practical applications emerge.