Google has introduced its new quantum chip, Willow, which claims to outperform leading supercomputers. Unveiled on December 10, 2024, at Google’s fabrication facility in Santa Barbara, the chip represents a significant advancement in quantum computing technology, according to CEO Sundar Pichai.
Google unveils quantum chip Willow, surpassing supercomputers
Sundar Pichai highlighted Willow’s potential to drastically reduce quantum computing errors while enabling Google to scale its use of qubits, the fundamental units of quantum computation. The chip can perform standard benchmark computations in under five minutes, a feat that would take the Frontier supercomputer, one of the fastest available, approximately 10 septillion years to complete. Hartmut Neven, founder of Google Quantum AI, described this length of time as “mind-boggling,” quantifying it as a 1 followed by 25 zeros.
Willow’s 105 qubits provide what Google characterizes as “best-in-class performance” in quantum error correction and random circuit sampling (RCS). This performance boasts a fivefold improvement over the company’s previous chip generation. Pichai noted that Willow is an important milestone in their ongoing quest to develop a large-scale quantum computer with real-world applications, including drug discovery, fusion energy, and battery design.
The chip was developed at Google’s state-of-the-art Santa Barbara facility, one of the few dedicated to advanced quantum computing fabrication. Pichai reflected on the twelve-year journey initiated by establishing Google AI, emphasizing the long-term vision to harness quantum mechanics for practical uses. The development team, comprised of around 300 members under Neven, remains focused on topical issues such as climate change and the challenges of fusion energy.
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One of the landmark features of Willow is its approach to error correction. The recent research published in the journal Nature demonstrates that adding more qubits to the system can decrease computational errors, a critical advancement that has been a challenge in quantum computing for nearly three decades. Google’s director of quantum hardware, Julian Kelly, described error correction as the “end game” in quantum computing, indicating that the company is making substantial progress in this pivotal area.
Global attention is increasingly focused on quantum research, seen as vital for future technological advancements. Significant investments have surfaced, totaling about $20 billion globally over the past five years, with both the United States and China intensifying their efforts. The U.S. government has also imposed restrictions on the export of this sensitive technology, underscoring its strategic importance.
Featured image credit: Google
