Will Google's latest breakthrough Bring Us Closer To The Full Potential Of Quantum Computing?

On Wednesday, researchers from Google revealed their latest breakthroughs on the company's quantum computer, Sycamore, which Google introduced back in 2019.

 

According to a pre-print publication, the latest iteration of Sycamore has demonstrated the ability to perform complex calculations in a matter of seconds, which would take the fastest supercomputer approximately 47 years to complete.

 

Google's latest quantum machine, the Sycamore quantum processor, boasts an impressive 70 qubits, marking a substantial advancement compared to its predecessor's 53 qubits. This enhancement signifies a remarkable improvement, making the new processor approximately 241 million times more resilient than the previous model.

 

Quantum computing utilizes qubits, or quantum bits, which differ from classical bits found in traditional computers. While classical bits can represent either a '0' or a '1', a qubit can exist in a superposition of both states simultaneously. This unique property enables quantum computers to perform highly intricate calculations at extraordinary speeds.

 

Researchers in the field of quantum computing have long aimed to surpass the computational capabilities of classical supercomputers. Over time, as quantum computers increase their qubit count, they have achieved several instances of outperforming supercomputers: Four years ago, Google's Sycamore was merely a second faster than the fastest supercomputer of that time, Frontier. However, the recent advancement, which added 17 qubits to Sycamore, indicates that Frontier would now require a staggering 47 years to complete the same calculation that Sycamore can accomplish in seconds.

 

This newly revealed breakthrough from quantum computers surely raised curiosity and additional questions regarding the possibilities and potential applications of quantum computers, as it is mostly believed that quantum computers possess the potential to perform tasks that surpass the capabilities of conventional computers.

 

However, while quantum computing does have shown promise in solving complex mathematical problems and achieving benchmarks, its practical applications in real-life challenges have been limited thus far. Addressing issues like climate change and discovering treatments for incurable diseases remain distant dreams, and challenges such as quantum noise and the requirement for extremely low temperatures continue to hinder the progress of quantum computers.

 

Nonetheless, the notable advancements made by Google have garnered praise from numerous experts in the field. Steve Brierley, the CEO of Riverlane, a company based in Cambridge, hailed Google's progress as a "major milestone." Brierley further emphasized that the debate regarding the attainability of quantum supremacy has now been conclusively resolved.

 

Meanwhile, Professor Winfried Hensinger, the director of the Sussex Centre for Quantum Technologies, also praised Google's accomplishments by highlighting their resolution of a challenging academic problem that proved difficult to compute on a classical computer. In addition, according to Professor Hensinger, Google's latest demonstration represents another significant stride in the ongoing progress of quantum computers. He emphasized that the next crucial advancement would involve the development of quantum computers capable of mitigating and correcting their inherent operational errors.

 

Even though many suggest we are still in the early stages of quantum computing and have only taken the first steps in this direction, the occasional triumphs over supercomputers still give people a glimpse of the potential of quantum computing.