Quantum Computing Just Got Twice as Accurate – Here's Why It Matters for Business
- Tami Melamed
- Jul 17
- 4 min read
Rigetti Computing just announced a significant milestone in quantum computing: achieving 99.5% median two-qubit gate fidelity on their modular 36-qubit system. While this might sound like technical jargon, this breakthrough represents a fundamental step toward practical quantum computing that could transform entire industries.
What Does This Actually Mean?
Think of quantum gate fidelity like the reliability of a car engine. If your car broke down every 200 miles, you wouldn't trust it for a cross-country trip. But if it could reliably run for 400 miles without issues, suddenly longer journeys become feasible. That's essentially what Rigetti has achieved – they've doubled the reliability of their quantum operations.
In technical terms, Rigetti cut their two-qubit gate error rate in half compared to their previous 84-qubit Ankaa-3 system. This improvement brings us significantly closer to the reliability threshold needed for practical quantum applications.
Why Gate Fidelity Matters
High-fidelity quantum gates are the foundation of quantum error correction – the technology that will make quantum computers practical for real-world problems. Every quantum computation involves thousands or millions of gate operations, so even small improvements in accuracy compound dramatically.
Rigetti's achievement is particularly impressive because they accomplished this using a modular chiplet approach – four 9-qubit chips working together. This architecture promises better scalability than traditional monolithic quantum processors, with plans to deliver a 100+ qubit system by the end of 2025.
Real-World Applications on the Horizon
Drug Discovery and Biotech Revolution
The pharmaceutical industry stands to benefit enormously from quantum computing advances. Companies like Moderna are already partnering with quantum computing firms to accelerate drug discovery. Quantum computers excel at simulating molecular interactions – a process that could revolutionize how we develop new medicines.
Imagine being able to predict how RNA molecules fold, simulate protein interactions, or model drug compounds with unprecedented accuracy. This could compress drug development timelines from decades to years, potentially saving millions of lives and billions in development costs.
Financial Services and Optimization
The financial sector presents another compelling use case. Portfolio optimization, risk analysis, and fraud detection all involve complex mathematical problems that quantum computers could solve more efficiently than classical systems.
Quantum algorithms could help financial institutions optimize trading strategies, manage risk more effectively, and detect fraudulent transactions in real-time. The potential market impact runs into the hundreds of billions of dollars.
Materials Science and Manufacturing
Quantum computing could revolutionize materials science by enabling the discovery of new materials with specific properties. This could lead to breakthroughs in:
Battery technology for electric vehicles
Solar cell efficiency improvements
Stronger, lighter composite materials
More efficient catalysts for chemical processes
Supply Chain and Logistics
Complex optimization problems that currently take days to solve could be tackled in hours. This includes route optimization for delivery companies, resource allocation in manufacturing, and supply chain management across global networks.
Companies like Volkswagen and D-Wave are already experimenting with quantum algorithms for traffic optimization, while logistics giants explore quantum solutions for route planning and warehouse management.
The Investment Perspective
From an investment standpoint, Rigetti's announcement signals that quantum computing is transitioning from research curiosity to practical technology. The company's modular chiplet approach could provide a competitive advantage in scaling quantum systems – a crucial factor for commercial viability.
For investors in biotech, fintech, and deep tech startups, quantum computing represents both an opportunity and a potential disruption. Companies that can leverage quantum advantages early may gain significant competitive moats, while those that ignore the technology risk being left behind.
The Road Ahead
While quantum supremacy – the point where quantum computers definitively outperform classical computers for practical problems – hasn't arrived yet, each improvement in gate fidelity brings us closer to that threshold. Rigetti's achievement is particularly significant because it demonstrates that quantum error rates can be systematically reduced through engineering improvements.
The company's roadmap includes launching their 36-qubit system on August 15, 2025, with plans for a 100+ qubit system by year-end. If they can maintain their fidelity improvements while scaling up, they could be among the first to achieve practical quantum advantage.
What This Means for Business Leaders
For executives and entrepreneurs, especially those in sectors likely to be impacted by quantum computing, now is the time to start thinking about quantum strategy. This doesn't mean rushing to implement quantum solutions today, but rather understanding how the technology might reshape your industry and competitive landscape.
Key questions to consider:
How might quantum computing affect your industry's core problems?
What partnerships or investments could position your company for quantum advantage?
Which competitors are already exploring quantum applications?
How can you prepare your organization for a quantum-enhanced future?
Conclusion
Rigetti's breakthrough in quantum gate fidelity represents more than a technical achievement – it's a milestone on the path to practical quantum computing. While we're still years away from quantum computers replacing classical systems for most applications, the trajectory is clear: quantum computing is moving from the laboratory to the marketplace.
For business leaders, investors, and innovators, the message is clear: the quantum revolution isn't coming – it's already here. The question isn't whether quantum computing will transform industries, but when and how quickly that transformation will occur.
The companies and investors who recognize this shift early and position themselves accordingly will be best positioned to capitalize on one of the most significant technological advances of our time.