Willow to solve a problem in five minutes that would take world’s fastest supercomputers 10 septillion years
Google has unveiled its new quantum computing chip, “Willow,” which it claims can solve a problem in five minutes that would take the world’s fastest supercomputers 10 septillion years, Reuters reported.
This breakthrough, a major step forward in quantum computing, marks a new chapter in the effort to harness quantum mechanics for powerful computing.
Quantum computers use the peculiar behaviours of particles to solve problems at speeds far beyond traditional machines.
Google describes Willow as a key “breakthrough” that “paves the way to a useful, large-scale quantum computer.”
However, experts caution that Willow is still largely experimental, and a fully practical quantum computer capable of solving real-world issues is likely years — and billions of dollars — away.
Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionise industries by speeding up complex processes like drug discovery, nuclear fusion design, and even improving car batteries.
But its applications also raise concerns, such as its potential to break current encryption methods.
Hartmut Neven, head of Google’s Quantum AI lab, referred to Willow as the “best quantum processor built to date.”
While he sees it as a step towards commercial applications, he emphasized that a usable quantum computer wouldn’t be available before the end of the decade.
Initially, the technology will be applied to problems where quantum effects are significant, such as in pharmaceuticals and energy storage.
Despite its promise, quantum computing is still a work in progress. Errors in quantum chips, which increase as more qubits are added, remain a challenge.
Google has made significant strides by improving error correction, a key hurdle in making quantum computers viable.
Professor Alan Woodward from Surrey University warned that Willow’s performance should not be overstated, noting that it was tailored to a specific task and does not represent a universal breakthrough.
While Willow may not be a commercial product yet, it marks an important milestone in the development of practical quantum computing.
