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Historic breakthrough: Willow, the chip that surpasses the capacity of supercomputers.
Google achieved a milestone in quantum computing with the launch of its new chip, called Willow. This innovation made it possible to solve a complex equation in just five minutes. For a classical supercomputer, this same problem would have taken 10 septillion years to solve, the company reported on its blog.
This breakthrough removed one of the biggest obstacles to quantum computing and accelerated the path to practical applications.
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More qubits, fewer errors: Google’s big step
Unlike traditional computers that operate on bits (1s and 0s), quantum computers use qubits. These qubits, based on quantum mechanics, can simultaneously represent 1 and 0. This capacity allows a greater amount of information to be processed at the same time. However, qubits are fragile and error-prone, and the more qubits you add to the equation, the more errors occur.
Google’s new Willow chip not only increases the number of qubits used, but also reduces errors significantly. This advance is essential for quantum computers to be viable for real applications. The elimination of errors marks a key difference from previous attempts at this technology.
Fierce competition: technology giants also want to lead
Google is not alone in the race for quantum computing. IBM, with research dating back to the 1980s, also seeks to lead this field. Other big tech companies like Intel, Amazon, Microsoft and Honeywell are also investing in this emerging technology.
Each of these companies is taking different approaches to optimize qubit performance, reduce errors, and make quantum computing commercially viable.
Competition drives innovation and accelerates the arrival of practical applications for industry and society.
Potential impact: applications beyond theory
Google claimed that quantum computing can transform entire industries. Among its notable applications are the discovery of new medicines, the search for energy alternatives and the strengthening of cybersecurity. Although these applications have not yet materialized, recent advances indicate that they could be closer than previously thought.
For example, the ability to model molecules at a quantum scale would allow new drugs to be discovered more quickly and accurately. It could also optimize energy systems and accelerate the development of clean energy.
In the field of cybersecurity, quantum computing could surpass current encryption systems, which is already prompting companies like Apple to strengthen their security protocols.
Government support: US and China bet big on quantum computing
The US government is strengthening its commitment to quantum research. In 2018, former President Donald Trump signed the National Quantum Initiative Act, allocating $1.2 billion for research projects. Subsequently, Joe Biden’s administration passed the CHIPS and Science Act, which also allocated resources for quantum research.
On December 3, 2024, a bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill to renew the 2018 law. This bill would allocate an additional $2.7 billion to continue advancing quantum computing.
Meanwhile, China is already investing more than $15 billion in this technology, surpassing US funding, according to the New York Times.
Experts say: “The impact of quantum computing will be greater than that of AI”
Markus Pflitsch, CEO of Terra Quantum, highlighted the relevance of hardware advances for quantum computing. “While AI advanced primarily through software, quantum computing relies on hardware innovations,” he explained to Yahoo Finance. Pflitsch also said that advances in the Willow chip reduce errors common in quantum systems, making this technology more practical and reliable.
According to the firm McKinsey, 72% of technology executives believe that fully fault-tolerant quantum computers will not be seen until after 2035.
However, some experts believe it could happen sooner, especially with recent advances in hardware.
Market in motion: the Google effect on the stock market
Google’s announcement had an immediate impact on the financial market. Shares of the company (GOOG) rose more than 5% on Tuesday, accumulating a 32% appreciation so far in 2024. Investors see quantum computing as a strategic growth opportunity.
In the graph we see the recent revaluation, since December 9, of Google shares in the stock market, and as at this time, at the time of writing this article, it continues to trade upwards in the pre-Market more than 1 %. Source: Google Finance.
This boom shows the market’s confidence in quantum technology and its potential to transform industries. As errors decrease and processing power increases, quantum computing could surpass the impact that artificial intelligence has had in the last decade.
Conclusion: a revolution that has just begun
Google’s new Willow chip represents a milestone in quantum computing. With more qubits and fewer errors, the potential for practical applications has accelerated.
Government support and competition between tech giants ensure that this revolution will continue to advance. Everything indicates that quantum computing will be one of the most transformative technologies of the 21st century.
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