In a major milestone in quantum computing, researchers at UC Berkeley have announced the first demonstration of “quantum supremacy” – a quantum computer able to solve problems beyond the reach of classical supercomputers.

Led by Professor Abigail Cross, the team built a 53-qubit quantum processor named ‘Newton’ that can sample the output of a random quantum circuit over one million times faster than simulations run on state-of-the-art supercomputers. This conclusively proves quantum computers can outpace even the most powerful classical machines for certain tasks.

“This is a significant step toward practical quantum computers,” said Cross. “While the problem solved has no practical applications, it unequivocally demonstrates that quantum computing holds revolutionary potential.”

Quantum computers leverage the bizarre properties of quantum mechanics to perform calculations fundamentally differently from classical computers. Their exponentially greater computational power for certain problems holds promise for applications in chemistry, material science, drug discovery, machine learning, and cryptography.

However, building stable, scalable quantum hardware has proven extremely challenging. This demonstration of quantum supremacy over classical supercomputers signals that quantum computing may soon transition from pure research to practical uses.

“There is still a ton of work to do, but we’re nearing the inflection point where quantum computers transition from noisy lab experiments to powerful commercial processors,” said Cross. “It’s an incredibly exciting time to be working in quantum computing.”

Major tech firms like IBM, Google, Microsoft, and Intel are racing to develop quantum processors. Whichever company first develops a commercial-grade quantum computer may gain an enormous advantage in markets from finance to healthcare to national security.