Google unveils new quantum computing chip Willow
Published: 10:10 10 Dec 2024 EST
Google Quantum AI has introduced Willow, a new quantum computing chip that achieves notable advancements in quantum error correction and computational performance.
The company said in a blog post that Willow successfully reduces errors exponentially as the number of qubits increases, addressing a key challenge in quantum computing that has been a focus for decades.
This progress, demonstrated by scaling up qubit arrays and halving error rates, marks a significant step toward building scalable quantum systems.
In addition, Willow completed a random circuit sampling benchmark in under five minutes, a task that would take a supercomputer 10 septillion years, showcasing its potential to outperform classical systems.
"Willow performed a standard benchmark computation in under five minutes that would take one of today’s fastest supercomputers 10 septillion years — a number that vastly exceeds the age of the Universe,” Google Quantum AI lead Hartmut Neven wrote in the blog post.
The chip’s performance includes a five-fold improvement in qubit retention time, an important metric for maintaining computational stability.
Google Quantum AI plans to focus on demonstrating practical, real-world applications of quantum computing. Its immediate goal is to achieve a "useful, beyond-classical" quantum computation, where quantum systems can address problems that are not only more challenging for classical computers but also have direct commercial relevance.
"Our goal is to do both at the same time — to step into the realm of algorithms that are beyond the reach of classical computers and that are useful for real-world, commercially relevant problems,” Neven wrote.
Google parent Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)'s shares traded higher following the update, adding 5.1% at $186 in early trade on Tuesday.
