Google’s latest achievement in quantum computing has garnered attention across the tech world, including praise from Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
The company’s new microchip, named Willow, claims to have overcome a long-standing quantum computing challenge by exponentially reducing errors as more qubits are added, FOX Business reported.
Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai announced this breakthrough, which could revolutionize industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to renewable energy. The innovation marks a significant step forward in making quantum computing practical and reliable.
Pichai took to X (formerly Twitter) to share the news: “Introducing Willow, our new state-of-the-art quantum computing chip with a breakthrough that can reduce errors exponentially as we scale up using more qubits, cracking a 30-year challenge in the field.”
According to Google, the Willow chip achieved computations in under five minutes, which would take a traditional supercomputer longer than the estimated lifespan of the universe to solve. This leap in performance highlights the immense potential quantum computing holds for solving problems previously considered impossible.
Elon Musk, known for his ventures in space and technology, responded with a simple “Wow.”
The exchange didn’t stop there. Pichai proposed a futuristic idea: “We should do a quantum cluster in space with Starship one day.”
Musk replied enthusiastically, suggesting such a project aligns with humanity’s journey toward becoming a Type II civilization on the Kardashev scale—a theoretical model for measuring a civilization’s technological advancement. Musk noted that humanity is currently at less than 5% of Type I, meaning significant technological leaps are still needed.
The Willow chip’s power comes from its 105 qubits — the fundamental units of quantum computation. Unlike the bits in traditional computers, qubits can exist in multiple states simultaneously, enabling quantum computers to process vast amounts of data at unprecedented speeds.
However, qubits are notoriously unstable and prone to errors caused by environmental factors, including interference from subatomic particles. Google’s Willow chip addresses this error problem, making quantum computations more reliable and scalable.
The breakthrough results from decades of research into quantum error correction, a challenge that has plagued scientists since the 1990s. Quantum chips tend to lose their efficiency as more qubits are added because errors accumulate, diminishing their advantages over conventional chips. Google’s new technology significantly reduces these errors, bringing the dream of large-scale, practical quantum computing closer to reality.
This advancement places Google at the forefront of the race, competing with tech giants like IBM and Microsoft, which are also developing quantum technologies.