Shares of IonQ Inc. (IONQ) surged 22.06% in intraday trading, outpacing a broader rally in quantum computing stocks. The dramatic rise comes as the company's CEO, Niccolo de Masi, expressed ambitious goals for IonQ's future in the quantum computing landscape.

In an interview with Barron's, de Masi stated, "We're in the business of quantum just like Nvidia and Broadcom are in the business of classical GPUs. I believe IonQ will be the Nvidia player." This bold comparison to the AI chip giant Nvidia has seemingly ignited investor enthusiasm, driving the stock to new heights. De Masi emphasized IonQ's focus on driving the quantum computing ecosystem, positioning the company as a potential leader in the nascent industry.

The surge in IonQ's stock price is part of a larger trend in the quantum computing sector. Several companies in the field, including D-Wave Quantum, Rigetti Computing, and Quantum Computing Inc., also saw significant gains. This broader rally was partly fueled by D-Wave's announcement of its sixth-generation Advantage2 quantum computing system, which the company claims can solve complex problems beyond the capabilities of classical computers. The positive sentiment surrounding quantum computing advancements appears to be lifting the entire sector, with IonQ emerging as a standout performer.