IonQ (NYSE: IONQ) announced it has achieved an algorithmic qubit score of #AQ 64, setting a new standard for quantum systems. This milestone was reached on an IonQ Tempo system, three months ahead of schedule, making IonQ the only company to have publicly reported this score.
The #AQ benchmark measures a quantum system’s capacity to execute quantum algorithms of increasing complexity and size with high fidelity. Achieving #AQ 64 signifies that IonQ’s quantum systems can address complex real-world applications, including improvements in energy grid distribution, computational drug discovery, engineering simulation modeling, supply chain optimization, and enhanced fraud and anomaly detection. Each increment in #AQ value doubles the useful computational space for running quantum algorithms. A system with #AQ 64 can consider over 18 quintillion (2^64) different possibilities, representing a computational power more than 268,435,456 times greater than #AQ 36 (2^36), which IonQ achieved nine months prior.
With #AQ 64, IonQ Tempo, the company’s fifth-generation quantum computer, is expected to enable commercial advantage for specific applications. Its computational space is 36 quadrillion times larger than IBM’s currently available quantum systems.
Niccolo de Masi, Chairman and CEO of IonQ, stated, “Achieving #AQ 64 marks a pivotal moment in our journey to unlock broad quantum advantage. This accomplishment reflects the maturity of our hardware, software, and applications stack, and reinforces our leadership in making quantum systems commercially valuable today. We estimate that in certain cases, our Tempo systems will perform quantum calculations that would otherwise require up to 1 billion GPUs to simulate, while consuming dramatically less energy and occupying a much smaller physical footprint.”
IonQ plans to report additional metrics, such as logical qubits, logical error rates, and a range of industry-relevant application benchmarks. These benchmarks will provide customers with direct insights into how IonQ’s systems can deliver value, with clear measurements on accuracy, cost, duration, and energy.
The company highlighted recent benchmark comparisons at its Analyst Day, demonstrating how IonQ’s Aria and Forte systems surpassed IBM’s current systems. These comparisons included a 35% improvement in solution quality for an optimization algorithm (QAOA) relevant to finance, logistics, materials, pharma, AI/ML, and energy. Additionally, there was a 74% improvement in solution quality for a foundation algorithm (QFT) used in cryptography, chemistry, and signal processing, and a 182% improvement in solution quality for a search algorithm (FAA) applicable to optimization, AI/ML, and security in large, noisy datasets.
This development follows IonQ’s announcements regarding its accelerated technology roadmap, securing a majority stake in ID Quantique, and its acquisitions of Qubitekk, Lightsynq, and Oxford Ionics, alongside the recently announced intent to acquire Vector Atomic. IonQ, Inc. (NYSE: IONQ) operates as a commercial quantum computing and networking company, providing high-performance systems for complex problem-solving. Its current generation quantum computers, IonQ Forte and IonQ Forte Enterprise, support customers and partners like Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA. The company aims to develop quantum computers with 2 million qubits by 2030 to advance drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. IonQ is also involved in building the quantum internet. The company has been recognized in Newsweek’s 2025 Excellence Index 1000, Forbes’ 2025 Most Successful Mid-Cap Companies list, and Built In’s 2025 100 Best Midsize Places to Work in Washington D.
C. and Seattle. Its services are available through major cloud providers.
