A little while ago, Amazon announced plans to host a quantum computer from its partner QuEra. The system would boast over 10,000 qubits with an impressively low error rate, enabling hundreds of logical qubits for real-world applications.

However, the current state of affairs at QuEra is markedly different. Its existing hardware comprises just 260 error-prone qubits, barely scratching the surface of what it aims to deliver in the future.

Last week, QuEra revealed its ambitious roadmap: no new hardware until a machine ready for Amazon by 2028, followed by an even more powerful model in 2029 with over 10,000 physical qubits and 256 error-corrected logical ones. By 2029, it promises a system capable of over 1,000 logical qubits.

The company’s strategy is clear: neutral atoms held in a laser grid form the basis for its technology, making scaling up largely a matter of increasing laser capacity. Academic partners have already demonstrated a 3,000-qubit system, proving that QuEra's vision is not entirely out of reach.

Despite these lofty goals, only time will tell if QuEra can leapfrog the competition and deliver on its promises.