Meet Willow, Google’s State-of-the-Art Quantum Chip

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Google’s Willow chip solves a problem in 5 minutes that would take classical computers longer than the universe’s history! 

Key takeaways

• Quantum Supremacy 2.0: Google’s 105-qubit ‘Willow’ chip hits a new milestone in error correction.
• Speed Demon: Solves a problem in 5 minutes — classical computers would need a billion years!
• Real-Time Fixes: Error correction gets smarter as qubits increase — a first for quantum computing.
• Lab Level-Up: Google moves from a shared lab to a dedicated fabrication facility for faster chip production.

Willow: A quantum chip like no other

Google just pulled off what could be the most considerable flex in quantum computing history.

Its new 105-qubit Willow chip solved a problem in just 5 minutes — something classical computers would take longer than the universe’s history to compute.

This is not Google’s first foray into quantum supremacy. Back in 2019, it made headlines by claiming to solve a 10,000-year problem in mere minutes.

With the right classical system, IBM clapped back, saying it would only take 2.5 days. Google took those critiques to heart. 

This time, it’s confident, stating that under the most “idealistic conditions,” classical computers would still need 1 billion years to match Willow’s power.

From shared space to a quantum factory

If you want to build the future, you need your lab. Google used to fabricate its chips at the University of California, Santa Barbara, but now it’s gone big, building its dedicated fabrication facility.

The move allows Google to control the pace of production and experiment with new designs faster.

“If we have a good idea, we want somebody on the team to be able to … get that into the clean room and one of these cryostats as fast as possible,” said Anthony Megrant, Chief Architect for Google Quantum AI.

This new facility supercharges Google’s innovation ability, letting them create and test new chips at lightning speed.

The chips are kept in massive cryostats — super-cold refrigerators that keep qubits stable.

Error-correction breakthrough

Qubits, the heart of quantum computers, are tricky little things. They’re robust but extremely error-prone, thanks to disturbances as minor as subatomic particles from outer space. 

As more qubits are added, errors usually multiply, holding quantum computing back for decades.

But with Willow, Google claims to have done the unthinkable:

• Error rates drop as qubits increase — a breakthrough.
• Real-time error correction — a crucial step toward making quantum computing commercially viable.

“We are past the break-even point,” said Hartmut Neven, who leads Google Quantum AI. 

This means Google’s system can now correct more errors than it creates — a first in the quantum world.

Quantum rivalries heat up

It’s not just Google in the race. IBM, Microsoft, and other tech giants are also chasing quantum supremacy.

While competitors focus on qubit count, Google is taking a different approach — it wants better, not just more significant qubits.

Some rivals boast chips with more qubits, but Google’s strategy is concerned with stability and reliability.

Building less error-prone qubits aims for a future where quantum computing can tackle real-world problems in medicine, AI, and battery chemistry.

The stakes are high, and the battle is on. Willow is Google’s power move, but as quantum computing heats up, the world will watch to see who crosses the finish line first.

Google’s move from shared labs to a custom fabrication facility gives it the edge to create faster, stronger, and more efficient chips.

With error correction now in real-time, Willow might just be the start of a quantum era.

Source: Reuters

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