California, USA – Google has unveiled “Willow,” its latest quantum computing chip, showcasing a remarkable breakthrough in computational speed.
The Willow chip, which features 105 qubits, addresses also one of the key challenges of quantum computing: error correction.
Qubits, the fundamental units of quantum computers, are known for their speed but are also highly susceptible to errors. These errors can arise from even the slightest disruptions, such as interactions with subatomic particles caused by cosmic events.
Google, however, has managed to overcome this challenge with its Willow chip. By connecting the qubits in a novel way, the chip reduces error rates as more qubits are added.
Meanwhile, Willow also successfully completed a complex calculation in just five minutes—an operation that would take traditional supercomputers around 10 septillion years to accomplish.
This achievement is crucial for scaling quantum computers and making them more practical for real-world applications.
While the tasks Willow has completed so far don’t have immediate commercial use, Google believes that quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize industries such as medicine, energy, and artificial intelligence in the future.
Willow was introduced today, December 9 (UST) and began its journey over 10 years ago.