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, asserting that some problems previously deemed unsolvable by classical computers can indeed be tackled using traditional methods.
In an accompanying statement, the Simons Foundation noted that earlier claims of quantum supremacy are now “in question.”
The discussion revolves around a D-Wave article published last year in the same journal. At that time, the company claimed its system had performed quantum dynamics simulations beyond the reach of classical algorithms. According to D-Wave, the largest configurations would have required the Frontier supercomputer nearly a million years to compute.
This assertion is now being challenged.
The Core of the Dispute
The Flatiron team employed a combination of tensor networks and a modified belief propagation algorithm. The researchers claimed they were able to reproduce calculations for several lattices using standard equipment—some experiments were even conducted on a laptop.
The conclusion: at least some tasks presented as demonstrations of quantum supremacy are not beyond the reach of classical computing.
D-Wave disagreed. On May 26, the company acknowledged the progress of classical methods but stated that the researchers only tested limited modes and did not replicate 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 debate extends beyond academic circles. 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 proven results rather than promises.
Financial Implications
The financial picture is mixed. In the first quarter of 2026, D-Wave reported record contracts worth $33.4 million, up from $1.6 million the previous year. These include 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.
However, quarterly revenue fell from $15 million to $2.9 million, as the previous year’s base included a significant one-time equipment delivery.
An additional driver is U.S. industrial policy. D-Wave plans to secure up to $100 million in funding through the CHIPS and Science Act to develop superconducting systems based on quantum annealing and gate architecture.
In May, the U.S. Department of Commerce allocated $2 billion to American companies engaged in quantum computing.