What is the difference between “Quantum Annealing” and “Gate-Model” quantum computing?

Xiao Huang: DOORM, the report mentions D-Wave’s focus on “annealing quantum computing.” Is this the same as the commonly heard “gate-model” quantum computing?

DOORM: They are not the same. Quantum annealing is a specialized quantum computing paradigm for solving optimization problems. It works by simulating a physical system’s natural annealing process from a high-energy state to a low-energy state (the optimal solution). The gate model, on the other hand, is a more general-purpose quantum computing model that performs operations via quantum logic gates. D-Wave is renowned for commercializing quantum annealing technology, while also conducting research and development in gate-model technology.