Google Overcomes Key Challenge in Quantum Computing with New Chip
Google has made a major breakthrough in quantum computing by overcoming a key challenge with its new chip, dubbed Willow. The chip is capable of solving complex problems that would take a classical computer more time than the history of the universe, Google claims.
The Willow chip features 105 qubits, which are the building blocks of quantum computers. However, qubits are prone to errors due to their sensitivity to environmental factors. To overcome this issue, Google has developed a way to string together the qubits to reduce error rates as the number of qubits increases.
In a paper published in the journal Nature, Google reported that it has found a way to correct errors in real-time, a crucial step towards making quantum machines practical. The company’s lead researcher, Hartmut Neven, declared that “we are past the break-even point.”
Google’s rivals, such as IBM, have also made progress in quantum computing. However, Google is focused on making the most reliable qubits, even if it means sacrificing the number of qubits per chip. The company has built its own dedicated fabrication facility to produce its Willow chips, which will speed up the development of future chips.
Google’s quantum computing efforts are aimed at solving complex problems in fields such as medicine, battery chemistry, and artificial intelligence that are currently out of reach for classical computers. While the math problem solved by the Willow chip may not have commercial applications, it represents a significant step forward in the development of practical quantum computers.