Google has introduced its latest quantum computing innovation, a chip named “Willow.” Leveraging cutting-edge technology, Willow addresses one of quantum computing’s longest-standing challenges: error correction. It marks a significant milestone by reducing error rates as the number of quantum bits (qubits) increases—an achievement unprecedented in the field.
The chip’s breakthrough allows it to solve a benchmark calculation that would traditionally take 10^25 years (far surpassing the universe’s age) in under five minutes on the world’s most powerful supercomputers. This milestone underscores Willow’s capability to tackle problems that were once deemed impossible for classical computing.
Error correction has been a formidable challenge since Peter Shor introduced the concept in 1995. Typically, as more qubits are added to a quantum system, the error rate increases due to the fragile nature of quantum states. Willow flips this paradigm: error rates decrease as more qubits are added, achieving error correction below the threshold for the first time in history.
Willow houses 105 qubits with a T1 time—the duration a qubit maintains its quantum state—approaching 100 microseconds. This represents a fivefold improvement over its predecessor and solidifies Google’s leadership in the quantum space.Using the Random Circuit Sampling (RCS) benchmark, Google demonstrated Willow’s computational prowess by completing a calculation in under five minutes—a task that would take conventional supercomputers 10 septillion years.
While the RCS benchmark highlights quantum supremacy in theoretical tasks, practical applications remain elusive. Current quantum systems can simulate quantum phenomena, but many of these simulations are still feasible with classical computers. With Willow, Google takes a decisive step toward making quantum computing not just a scientific curiosity but a transformative tool for the future.