Experts question D-Wave's claims of quantum supremacy - ForkLog: cryptocurrencies, AI, singularity, the future

# Experts question D-Wave's claims of quantum supremacy

Researchers from the Flatiron Institute and Boston University, supported by the Simons Foundation, have cast doubt on D-Wave's claims of quantum supremacy.

On May 21, a paper was published in Science stating that some problems previously considered impossible for classical computers can actually be solved with traditional methods.

In a statement from the Simons Foundation, it was said that previous claims of quantum supremacy are "in question."

This refers to the article by D-Wave published last year in the same journal. At that time, the company claimed that its system performed quantum dynamic simulations beyond the capabilities of classical algorithms. According to D-Wave, the largest configurations would require nearly a million years of computation on the supercomputer Frontier.

This very thesis is now being challenged.

The essence of the claim

The Flatiron team used a combination of tensor networks and a modified probability propagation algorithm. The researchers stated that they were able to reproduce calculations for several lattices on regular hardware — some experiments were even performed on a laptop.

Conclusion: at least some of the problems presented as demonstrations of quantum supremacy are not beyond the reach of classical computing.

D-Wave disagreed. On May 26, the company acknowledged progress in classical methods but stated that the researchers only tested limited modes and did not reproduce the full set of problems from the original work. According to the firm, the new paper does not cover the entire range of geometries, system sizes, interaction parameters, and measurable quantities.

The dispute goes beyond academic debate. On June 1, D-Wave will hold an Investor Day at the NYSE, where it promises to present its strategy, roadmap, and commercial prospects. CEO Alan Baratz stated that the industry is entering a phase of confirmed results rather than promises.

Impact on finance

The financial outlook is mixed. In the first quarter of 2026, D-Wave reported record contracts worth $33.4 million, compared to $1.6 million a year earlier. Among them are the sale of a system to Florida Atlantic University for $20 million and a two-year quantum computing-as-a-service agreement with a Fortune 100 company for $10 million.

Quarterly revenue, however, decreased from $15 million to $2.9 million — last year, the revenue included a large one-time equipment delivery.

An additional driver is the US industrial policy. D-Wave plans to raise up to $100 million through the CHIPS and Science Act to develop superconducting systems based on quantum annealing and gate architectures.

Recall that in May, the US Department of Commerce allocated $2 billion to American companies involved in quantum computing.