Google Quantum AI has unveiled Willow, a new quantum computing chip showcasing advancements in quantum error correction and computational performance. The chip represents a significant step toward achieving scalable, commercially relevant quantum computing, addressing longstanding challenges in the field.
Willow demonstrates exponential error reduction as the number of qubits scales up. The chip’s error correction capabilities, validated through experiments scaling from 3×3 to 7×7 qubit grids, mark a historic milestone known as “below threshold.” This designation indicates a substantial reduction in error rates, overcoming a challenge first identified in 1995. Willow also achieves real-time error correction on a superconducting quantum system, with arrays of qubits surpassing the lifetimes of individual qubits, signaling robust system-wide error management.
The chip’s computational power was assessed using the random circuit sampling (RCS) benchmark, where it completed a computation in under five minutes that would take a classical supercomputer approximately 10 septillion years. This performance not only validates the chip’s quantum supremacy but also underscores the growing disparity between quantum and classical computational capabilities.
Fabricated at Google’s specialized facility in Santa Barbara, Willow integrates advanced system engineering to optimize performance across various components. Its 105 qubits achieve benchmark performance in quantum error correction and RCS, supported by improvements such as qubit lifetimes nearing 100 microseconds.
Google Quantum AI emphasizes that the next milestone involves demonstrating a useful, beyond-classical computation applicable to real-world problems. Current experiments, while advancing benchmarks and scientific understanding, aim to bridge theoretical potential with practical utility. Willow is seen as a pivotal platform for advancing quantum algorithms that could address challenges in fields like medicine, energy, and AI. To foster broader engagement, Google is offering open-source tools and educational resources, including a new Coursera course on quantum error correction, inviting researchers and developers to contribute to this field.
