Baidu launches first superconducting quantum computer

Baidu has introduced Qian Shi (乾始), its first superconducting quantum computer that fully integrates hardware, software and applications.

Located at Baidu’s Quantum Computing Hardware Lab in Beijing, Qian Shi incorporates its hardware platform with Baidu’s home-grown software stack. It can run numerous practical quantum applications, such as quantum algorithms used to design new materials for novel lithium batteries or simulate protein folding.

The quantum computer provides a stable and substantial quantum computing service to the public with high-fidelity 10 quantum bits (qubits) of power. Baidu has recently completed the design of a 36-qubit superconducting quantum chip with couplers, which demonstrates promising simulation results across key metrics.

A revolutionary technology that harnesses the laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems beyond the reach of classical computers, quantum computing is expected to bring ground-breaking transformations in fields such as artificial intelligence, computational biology, material simulation, and financial technology.

Quantum integration solution

Along with the launch of Qian Shi, Baidu has also introduced the Liang Xi (量羲) all-platform quantum hardware-software integration solution that provides access to various quantum chips via mobile app, PC and cloud.

Liang Xi can plug into Qian Shi and other third-party quantum computers, including a 10-qubit superconducting quantum device and a trapped ion quantum device developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

“With Qian Shi and Liang Xi, users can create quantum algorithms and use quantum computing power without developing their own quantum hardware, control systems, or programming languages,” said Runyao Duan, Director of the Institute for Quantum Computing at Baidu Research.

“Baidu’s innovations make it possible to access quantum computing anytime and anywhere, even via smartphone. Baidu’s platform is also instantly compatible with a wide range of quantum chips, meaning ‘plug-and-play’ access is now a reality,” he added.