Rigetti Computing (RGTI +5.11%) has recently made headlines in the quantum computing sector by achieving a significant milestone: a two-qubit gate fidelity of 99.9%. This breakthrough addresses one of the industry’s main challenges—accuracy—which has hindered the commercial viability of quantum technologies. However, despite this progress, Rigetti faces substantial hurdles, particularly as its largest 108-qubit system only maintains a 99% accuracy rate, raising concerns about scalability and reliability.

The competitive landscape is daunting, with companies like IonQ (IONQ +5.52%) setting the bar higher by achieving a two-qubit gate fidelity of 99.99%. IonQ’s advancements position it to launch a 256-qubit system later this year, significantly outpacing Rigetti in both accuracy and computational power. This disparity raises questions about Rigetti’s long-term viability in the quantum computing race.

For investors, the key takeaway is that while Rigetti’s recent achievements are noteworthy, its ongoing accuracy challenges and competitive disadvantages suggest that there may be more promising investment opportunities in the quantum computing space, particularly with firms like IonQ leading the way.

Source: fool.com