Google announced a major breakthrough in quantum computing with the introduction of its latest chip, named Willow.
Developed at the company’s quantum lab in Santa Barbara, California, this new chip managed to solve a complex mathematical problem in only five minutes — a feat that would require classical computers an inconceivable time span longer than the universe has existed.
“Willow achieved a standard benchmark computation in less than five minutes, a process that would take one of today’s fastest supercomputers 10 septillion (which is, 10^25) years — a duration that is vastly longer than the age of the Universe,” Google stated in a blog post.
Similar to other tech giants like Microsoft, Google's goal is to transform computing by attaining speeds significantly greater than existing systems. While the problem resolved by Google’s chip may not have any immediate commercial application, the company foresees quantum computers addressing challenges in areas such as medicine, battery technology, and artificial intelligence that are beyond the reach of current machines.
For those unfamiliar, a quantum chip is a specific type of computer chip designed to leverage the principles of quantum mechanics, which deal with minuscule particles like atoms.
Unlike standard chips that utilise "bits" (0 or 1) for data processing, quantum chips employ "qubits," which can exist as 0, 1, or both simultaneously. This remarkable capability enables quantum chips to execute intricate calculations much quicker than traditional computers.
Central to Google’s innovation is the Willow chip, featuring 105 qubits — the basic units of quantum computation. Qubits are inherently quicker than conventional bits but are susceptible to errors induced by tiny disturbances, like subatomic particles.
These mistakes have been a significant challenge, as they tend to escalate with additional qubits on a chip, compromising performance.
Willow’s capabilities are astounding: Google reports it performed a task in under five minutes that would take even the fastest supercomputers a staggering 10 septillion years. That's 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 years—considerably longer than the age of the universe.
This remarkable outcome lends credence to the concept that quantum computing functions across numerous parallel realities, which aligns with the multiverse theory suggested by David Deutsch.
Google has indicated that by carefully interconnecting Willow’s qubits, it was able to lower error rates as the number of qubits increased. Furthermore, Google asserts it can now rectify errors in real-time, an important advancement toward making quantum machines viable for practical applications.
Follow us
