IonQ vs Rigetti Computing

IonQ and Rigetti Computing are both American startups developing quantum computers and offering access to their quantum systems via cloud services. Their services are used in chemistry, materials science and physics research projects. Both companies are developing hybrid quantum-classical algorithms for machine learning. However, they often experience NISQ problems with computational errors. Currently they are not profitable and rely on grants and investments.

However, IonQ (founded in 2015) uses trapped-ion technology with full connectivity between qubits - this enables long-term coherence compared to superconducting systems. IonQ markets its systems as "quantum-AI ready" and has already demonstrated the use of quantum methods to enhance LLM models. IonQ partners with AWS, Azure, Google Cloud to provide user access to its devices.

Rigetti Computing (2013) produces quantum chips - superconducting qubits implemented as integrated circuits on silicon, with fast gate operations and low latency. Rigetti offers a full stack (hardware + software + cloud services) via its own Quantum Cloud Services platform. Developers are encouraged to use pyQuil, a low-level language for programming quantum algorithms. Rigetti claims its system is used for machine learning, optimization and hybrid quantum-classical algorithms in financial applications.