Quantum chip Willow: Google AI’s Breakthrough Towards Large-Scale Quantum Computing

Google’s new Quantum AI chip, Willow, makes key advances in error correction and performs calculations impossible for today’s supercomputers.

Willow, the latest quantum chip from Google Quantum AI, marks a milestone in the race for useful and scalable quantum computing.

This chip not only managed to reduce errors exponentially by increasing the number of qubits, but it also executed calculations in minutes that would exceed the limits of the world’s fastest supercomputers.

A breakthrough could be key to solving complex problems in areas such as artificial intelligence, energy and medicine.

Exponential error reduction: an achievement of decades

One of the biggest challenges in quantum computing is error management. Qubits, the fundamental processing units in these systems, are inherently unstable and tend to interact with their environment, introducing errors that make calculations difficult.

Willow has made a revolutionary breakthrough in this field: reducing errors exponentially by scaling up qubits. According to a study published in Naturethe Google Quantum AI team tested qubit arrays ranging from a 3×3 grid to a 7×7 grid, cutting error rates in half with each iteration. This, known in the field as being “below threshold,” is a prerequisite for building scalable and reliable logical qubits.

Hartmut Neven, founder and leader of Google Quantum AI, said: “This is the most compelling demonstration yet of a scalable logical qubit, reinforcing the feasibility of building useful, large-scale quantum computers.”

A calculation that exceeds the age of the universe

Willow has also set a new standard with the benchmark Random Circuit Sampling (RCS), a calculation designed to measure whether a quantum chip can outperform classical computers.

In this test, Willow performed a calculation in less than five minutes that would take 10 septillions of years on today’s most advanced supercomputer. To put it in perspective, this figure far exceeds the estimated age of the universe.

This level of performance validates the chip’s ability to perform calculations “beyond classical”, opening the door to quantum algorithms with real and commercially relevant applications.

Cutting-edge manufacturing and technical improvements

Willow was created at Google’s state-of-the-art facility in Santa Barbara, designed specifically for quantum chip manufacturing.

With 105 qubits, the chip offers significant improvements in critical metrics such as qubit lifetimes, which now reach 100 microseconds, a five-fold increase over the previous generation. This results in a greater ability to maintain consistency during complex calculations.

Google emphasizes that it is not only about increasing the number of qubits, but also about improving their quality and functionality. This comprehensive approach ensures that all components, from logic gates to readout qubits, work in harmony to maximize system performance.

Willow’s impact on computing and beyond

The next step for Willow is to demonstrate useful quantum calculations with practical applications. Until now, experiments have focused on benchmarks without direct applications or on scientific simulations still replicable by classical computers. The objective is to merge both worlds, achieving advances impossible with traditional methods.

This progress will not only benefit quantum computing, but could also revolutionize other fields. From creating medicines to designing more efficient batteries, Willow and future quantum chips promise to be critical tools for addressing critical global problems.

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