Google announced on Monday that it has achieved a significant breakthrough in quantum computing with its latest chip, Willow. This new technology can solve a complex computational problem in just five minutes, a task that would take a classical computer an estimated ten septillion years—far longer than the universe’s age. The Willow chip features 105 qubits and incorporates advanced error correction techniques, marking a major step forward in making quantum computing more practical and reliable for future applications.
Google is joining other tech leaders like Microsoft and IBM in the race for quantum computing, which offers the potential for significantly faster processing speeds than current systems. Although the mathematical problem solved by Google’s quantum lab in Santa Barbara lacks immediate commercial applications, the company envisions that future quantum computers could tackle complex challenges in fields such as medicine, battery technology, and artificial intelligence that are currently beyond the reach of classical computers.
The findings announced on Monday were achieved using a new chip named Willow, which features 105 “qubits,” the fundamental units of quantum computers. While qubits can process information rapidly, they are also susceptible to errors, as even tiny disturbances, such as those caused by subatomic particles from cosmic events, can disrupt their functioning.
As the number of qubits increases on a chip, the likelihood of errors also rises, potentially rendering the chip no more effective than a traditional computer chip. Researchers have focused on developing quantum error correction techniques since the 1990s to address this challenge.
In a study published in the journal Nature on Monday, Google announced that it has developed a method to connect the qubits of its Willow chip so that the error rates decrease as more qubits are added. The company also stated that it can correct these errors in real time, which is a crucial advancement for making quantum computers more practical and reliable for use.
Hartmut Neven, the head of Google Quantum AI, stated in an interview, “We have surpassed the break-even point.” In 2019, IBM contested Google’s assertion that its quantum chip could solve a problem in a time frame equivalent to what would take a classical computer 10,000 years. IBM claimed that with different technical assumptions, the same problem could be resolved in just two and a half days.
In a blog post released on Monday, Google addressed some of these concerns in its latest estimates. The company asserted that even under optimal conditions, a classical computer would still require a staggering billion years to achieve results comparable to those of its newest chip.Some of Google’s competitors are developing chips with more qubits than Google’s offerings, but Anthony Megrant, the chief architect for Google Quantum AI, emphasized that Google is prioritizing the reliability of its qubits over sheer quantity. Previously, Google produced its chips at a shared facility at the University of California, Santa Barbara, but has now established its dedicated fabrication plant for the Willow chips. Megrant noted that this new facility will accelerate the production of future chips, which are cooled in large cryostats to facilitate experiments.
Google’s next objective is to achieve a significant “useful, beyond-classical” computation that applies to real-world scenarios and cannot be accomplished by traditional computers. According to Neven, quantum technology will become essential for gathering data needed for artificial intelligence training. This advancement is expected to facilitate breakthroughs in various fields, including the discovery of new medicines, the development of more efficient batteries for electric vehicles, and the acceleration of progress in fusion energy and alternative energy sources.
