Guo Guangcan 郭光灿, one of China’s pioneers in quantum computing

Guo Guangcan, co-founder of China’s leading quantum computer company Origin Quantum, predicts that the era of "quantum-super-intelligence" could begin in just five years. This contrasts with remarks by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang that practical quantum computing is still 20 years away from “truly being useful.” Stock prices of major quantum computing firms plunged by more than 40 percent on Huang’s comments.

Guo’s claims are based on his work at Origin Quantum, Beijing’s front runner in quantum computing. He founded the heavily state-supported start-up in 2017 together with Guo Guoping, after developing quantum optics in academic research since the 1980s. Origin Quantum is integrating its 72-qubit quantum chip Wukong into more services, Guo said in February.

According to Guo, Beijing is currently in the second of three stages of quantum development. This stage allows limited applications in specific fields, with the possibility for “quantum applications to explode any time”. Guo claims that in the next five years, the world will enter the stage of "quantum-super-intelligence," which integrates quantum, super- and intelligent computing.

Guo’s positive projection might aim to secure state support. He personifies China’s heavily state-led innovation system and the strong connection between state, research and industry. In his positions as a professor at the University of Science and Technology of China and the head of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Quantum Information, he oversees projects on solid-state quantum memory and quantum entanglement and semiconductors.

Guo has argued that quantum technology should become an “important source of new quality productive forces,” and that China is on track to win the global tech race. By contrast, another revered quantum researcher, Tsinghua vice-dean Xue Qikun warned last September that China might still need 15 years before reaching a universal quantum computer.