Google Develops Quantum Computer That Outperforms Existing Supercomputers
Google has successfully developed a quantum computer that has the ability to instantly perform calculations that would take the best existing supercomputers 47 years. According to a research article released by Google, the company’s quantum technology “surpasses the capabilities of existing classical supercomputers”. This breakthrough in quantum computing opens up new possibilities for solving complex problems.
Quantum computers, based on the principles of quantum physics, have the potential to create incredibly powerful machines that can help fight climate change and develop innovative drugs. However, they also pose a significant threat to modern encryption systems, making them a matter of national security concern.
In 2019, Google claimed to have achieved “quantum supremacy” by surpassing the capabilities of traditional computers. This claim was later challenged by competitors who argued that Google was exaggerating the differences between their machine and traditional supercomputers.
Google has now unveiled an even more powerful quantum computer in order to settle disputes about the potential of quantum supercomputers. The new computer consists of 70 qubits, compared to the 53 qubits in the 2019 machine. Adding more qubits exponentially increases the computational power of a quantum computer, making this new machine approximately 241 million times more powerful than its predecessor.
Researchers conducted a comparison between the Frontier supercomputer, currently the world’s most powerful, and Google’s 2019 53-qubit computer. They found that the Frontier supercomputer took only 6.18 seconds to perform the same calculation as the 2019 Google machine. However, when comparing the Frontier supercomputer to the new Google quantum computer, the calculation time increased to a staggering 47.2 years. The researchers also assert that their new quantum computer surpasses demonstrations by the leading Chinese laboratory, pushing the boundaries of classical quantum calculations.
One key advantage of Google’s large quantum computer is its ability to control “noise”, which refers to interference that disrupts