D-Wave System announced reverse annealing. Reverse annealing lets programmers start the search for the best solution at a localized spot in solution space. The system will then focus on the area which may be more promising for the best answer.D-Wave enables users to have more control of qubits during the annealing process.

Reverse annealing allows users to start systematic searches for the best answer based upon their understanding of the solution space. It circumvents limitations on the number of qubits or the entanglement time by starting new searches in different locations.

D-Wave is working on a 5000 qubit system now and will likely install it with a customer in less than 2 years. They are also working to broaden connectivity on their chips.

IBM Quantum Experience in the cloud: 20 qubits at the end 2017 and a 50-qubit device has been built.