Google has unveiled its latest quantum computing breakthrough: the “Willow chip.” The product claims to solve computational problems in just five minutes that would take today’s fastest supercomputers longer than the age of the universe to complete.
Founder and lead of Google Quantum AI Hartmut Neven, underscored the chip’s significance in a statement on Monday, describing it as part of the team’s mission to develop a “useful, large-scale quantum computer that could harness quantum mechanics…to benefit society by advancing scientific discovery.”
Google Quantum AI is now concentrating on identifying commercial applications for this cutting-edge innovation.
The Willow chip was made at Google’s specialized facility in Santa Barbara, California, designed specifically for quantum chip production. Neven highlighted the precision of the manufacturing process, noting that any lag or inefficiency in the chip’s components could undermine system performance.
“If any component lags or if two components don’t function well together, it drags down system performance,” Neven explained.
A pioneer in artificial intelligence at Google, Neven has shifted his focus to quantum computing, surprising many of his colleagues. He explained the shift by pointing to the complementary potential of these transformative technologies.
“Both AI and quantum computing will prove to be the most transformational technologies of our time, but advanced AI will significantly benefit from access to quantum computing. This is why I named our lab Quantum AI,” he said.